Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)

It must be stated that we are not withdrawing our troops because we want to. It is because the mandate is not being renewed and that was a decision that was taken out of our hands. Ireland is absolutely committed to UNIFIL and we will stay fully committed to it until the end of that mission.

When it comes to the overall UN peacekeeping budget, we are in a time of absolute flux and existential crisis, in many regards, in relation to the UN and peacekeeping missions. We are seeing so many countries either delaying their funding or not making their contributions. I am very worried that the lack of funding going into the UN and the shortfall that is created by that lack of funding will mean the UN will have less of an ability to carry out its core mandate in relation to peace and human rights.