Two sets of brothers are in a platoon departing to serve with the UN mission in East Timor. They are (from left) Cpls Gerry and Tommy Campbell, from Redcastle, Co Donegal, and Ptes Gerald and Ronan Caldwell, from Donegal town.
At the review of troops, the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, accused those opposed to the State's role in increasing military co-operation in Europe of being "blinkered".
"Some people who claim to be `pure' neutrals are really isolationists. They are not internationalists," he said. If this "blinkered" line was adopted, Ireland would never participate in humanitarian tasks.