The Minister for Defence denied a claim that Irish troops serving in Liberia had to pay for mosquito nets and repellents.
The claim was made by the Labour defence spokesman, Mr Joe Sherlock, who said that the troops should be supplied with them as part of normal equipment.
The Minister for Defence, Mr O'Dea, replied: "I am advised that all Irish personnel are issued with mosquito nets as well as two types of mosquito repellent, one for application to the mosquito net and the other for normal skin application." Mr Sherlock asked the Minister if the Department had plans to review the €500 levied on the Irish troops serving in Liberia who wished to return to Ireland on holidays.
The Minister said that Defence Forces' personnel serving with mission were entitled to 21 days of annual leave for the duration of their six-month tour of duty.
He was advised, he added, that the average cost of a return commercial scheduled flight ticket from Dublin to Monrovia was €1,200. A contribution of €500 was provided by each individual, and a mechanism to have the sum deducted at source from the individual's overseas allowance had been agreed with the Department's financial accounts section.
Mr O'Dea said there had been a 96.5 per cent uptake of the facility by members of the 90th and 91st infantry battalions to date.
"There are no plans at present to alter the current arrangements.
"However, the matter will be kept under review."
Pressed further on the issue by Mr Sherlock, the Minister insisted that the arrangement, made by his predecessor, Mr Michael Smith, was quite generous.
