asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his Department have received a request to send peace-keeping troops to Africa.

Ireland has at present some military observers with UN Forces in the Sinai area which is of course geographically part of Africa. Apart from this my Department have received no request from the United Nations to send peace-keeping troops to Africa.

I should mention, however, that some time ago Ireland, together with a number of other countries, was asked informally if it could provide a limited number of civilian police for the UN Transitional Assistance Group which it was proposed to establish in Namibia, South West Africa. The setting up of this UN operation has, however, been delayed pending the outcome of negotiations at present under way in regard to the future of the territory.