Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

It is true that we wish to participate in this battlegroup, largely because we have been exhorted to do so by the UN, particularly by the Secretary General, Kofi Annan. He has requested that Ireland does so as one of the countries in the UN infrastructure with the highest proportion of UN peacekeeping forces per head of population currently taking part in operations in difficult and dangerous parts of the world. However, this Government is adamant that there must be UN authorisation for the participation of our troops in any peacekeeping force and I believe our position is held by most Irish people. I accept that this may cause some difficulties in respect of particular requests for us to participate in a battlegroup operation but it is the current position of this Government and I cannot envisage any change in this policy.

I am not making a political point but Deputy Allen is saying one thing while the two parties with which his party proposes to enter Government hold completely different views in respect of this matter. The Government is adamant that we must acquire the approval of the Government and the Dáil and UN authorisation for Ireland's participation in any battlegroup operation. This is because of the discomfort Irish people feel about Irish troops engaging in conflicts without UN authorisation. The Irish people welcome and are proud of the participation of Irish troops in UN peacekeeping operations with UN authorisation. We are clear that any participation by Irish troops in battlegroup operations or any amending legislation we bring forward in order to participate in battlegroups will retain the concept of the triple lock. This may cause us difficulty in respect of particular events, although, hopefully, this will not occur. If it does, other countries which do not have this requirement must step in. We, however, have this requirement.

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