Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It feels as if there is constantly something unsaid in this debate. The Government is in favour of removing the need for a UN mandate for peacekeeping missions. We have had referendums in the past and a lot of weight was put on the fact that the triple lock existed - that this was a defence of our neutrality. Whatever about your bona fides, the effect of this is to undermine Irish neutrality. The issue that is left unsaid is: what missions does the Government believe need to take place outside of a UN mandate? For all the faults of the UN, this is how it operates. We would certainly like to see it reformed. I take the point that reform is unlikely to happen. However, notwithstanding that, the UN is the organisation that is tasked with providing peacekeepers, generally speaking. What missions does the Minister anticipate Irish troops could potentially go on outside of a UN mandate?

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