Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 8 March 2018

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence

Service by the Defence Forces with the United Nations in 2016: Motion

2:00 pm

Photo of Seán BarrettSeán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would like to put on record once again how proud we are of the Irish forces who serve in various parts of the world on peacekeeping missions. I emphasise "peacekeeping". We are experts in it and have been doing it in Lebanon for about 40 years. I was there myself when I was Minister for Defence and I saw these people in operation. We should be very proud of them.

I reject any criticism that is levelled at us from anybody in respect of the work of our peacekeepers. We are not and should never become associated with one group or another. We are there for a given purpose, to keep peace. It is important that this committee let its feelings be known. We are very proud of our peacekeepers and it behoves us to remind people that their location and the work they do is peacekeeping. We are not on one side or the other. It is a very difficult task but we are experts at it.

I ask the Minister of State to pass on our congratulations to all these peacekeeping missions, whether they involve 100 people or 30 people. I have seen it myself and the Minister of State has seen it as well. They are wonderful and are highly respected throughout the world. I reject any criticism that is levelled. People should be reminded that they are peacekeepers. They are not there to support one regime or another. Sometimes they have to make difficult choices but they do so according to the purpose for which they are in that particular location. I want to put on record my full support for the role and work of our peacekeepers abroad.

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