Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)

I believe Deputy McGinley is referring to the mission whereby UN sanction was vetoed by China. In effect, members of the Security Council have a veto on such operations. It is our intention that the triple-lock arrangement will continue. Any peacekeeping operations or foreign engagements involving Irish troops will require a decision by the Government, ratification by the Dáil and sanction by the UN. While one could say that some people have a veto which might effectively prevent Irish involvement in peacekeeping missions, any movement to diminish the triple-lock would undermine the notion that the UN is superior in this regard and that Ireland only acts under its aegis. I do not envisage any change in the triple-lock arrangement. The veto is an element of the UN structure but so far as Ireland is concerned, it is the primacy of the UN which is paramount. Such operations must be approved unanimously and if the veto is exercised, that is too bad and means that Ireland cannot become involved. As far as the Government is concerned, the triple-lock arrangement will continue to operate in its current form.

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