Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I refer to the UN Security Council resolution on Libya which did not stipulate that France and Britain engage in regime change and removal, but which is what they did. It has resulted in a crisis in Syria because Russia and China will not support a Security Council resolution on Syria. I refer to long-standing UN resolutions on Israel and the West Bank settlements, yet we are not sending Defence Forces members to help the people of Palestine. These activities are optional and the Government has choices. We need a debate on this operation in Mali. As only eight members of the Defence Forces are going to Mali, the operation does not require the approval of the House which is necessary when more than 12 members of the Defence Forces are involved. I appeal to the Minister of State and the Minister for Defence, Deputy Alan Shatter to agree to a debate in the House on the impact on our neutrality of this involvement in Mali. I agree that there are human rights abuses on both sides of the conflicti. I also agree that the international community has a role to play in conflict resolution, peacekeeping and protecting people on both sides. However, we are taking sides and not being neutral in this issue. This is not in keeping with Ireland's international reputation. We need a debate to discuss the issue rather than have this measure rushed through in a couple of minutes today.

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