Dáil debates

Tuesday, 12 October 2004

3:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 6: To ask the Minister for Defence the overseas peacekeeping and peace enforcement missions contemplated or envisaged for the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24041/04]

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland is currently contributing approximately 740 Defence Forces personnel to 21 different missions throughout the world. The main commitments are to the NATO-led international security presence in Kosovo, with 213 personnel, and to the United Nations Mission in Liberia, with 435 personnel. Other personnel are serving as monitors and observers with the United Nations, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the European Union. Staff are also deployed at the organisational headquarters of the OSCE, the United Nations, NATO and the EU.

In Kosovo the Defence Forces are serving as part of a Finnish battalion with a Swedish-led multinational brigade. A reorganisation and downsizing of the NATO led forces in KFOR was planned and had partly commenced when civil disturbances broke out in March this year in Kosovo. That downsizing has now been deferred to allow the situation to settle. The withdrawal of the Irish contingent was planned as part of this downsizing and was to have been completed by October 2004. However, having regard to the fragility of the peace in Kosovo and subject to ongoing assessments of the situation on the ground, Ireland will continue to maintain an appropriate presence in KFOR in 2004.

Ireland's other current major contribution to peacekeeping is in Liberia. Here, Ireland, together with an infantry company group from Sweden, provides the rapid reaction reserve to the UNMIL force commander. Despite the difficult start to this mission, with the tragic death of Sergeant Derek Mooney of the Army ranger wing in a road accident, the mission is proving successful. Ireland was specifically requested by the UN to participate in a substantive manner in this mission, which is a tribute to the high regard in which the UN holds the Defence Forces. I very much welcome the participation of Sweden as part of the reserve. This type of co-operationis reflective of the changing dynamics in peacekeeping.

Additional information

The range and diversity of arrangements now in place for peacekeeping allow us to work in tandem with like-minded nations to contribute in a very effective and meaningful manner to peace support operations throughout the world. Interoperability with other forces is a key factor in our involvement in PfP and in our preparations over the past few years for the EU rapid reaction force. It is rewarding to see the effects of the hard work put in by the Defence Forces over the past number of years coming to fruition in such a positive way in the peace support role. It is intended that Defence Forces involvement in UNMIL will not exceed two to three years.

In the coming months, we are looking forward to the takeover by the EU of the current NATO led operation in Bosnia Herzegovina, known as SFOR. Ireland has already participated in its first EU mission, Operation Artemis, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and we currently have a number of staff deployed at SFOR headquarters. Subject to the approval of the Government and Dáil Éireann and an appropriate UN mandate, it is proposed that Ireland will contribute in a substantive manner to the EU mission, codenamed Operation Althea, taking account of available resources and ongoing developments in other peace support missions in which we are involved. Planning for participation in Operation Althea is currently ongoing.

No other deployments are planned or envisaged at this time, particularly having regard to the scale of our current overseas commitments. However, as the Deputy will appreciate, situations will no doubt arise where a request will be received for some Irish participation and these will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Has an indication been received from any quarter regarding future peacekeeping or peace enforcement missions other than those which the Minister has outlined to the House? If so, what discussion has taken place?

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Discussions have taken place with regard to the proposed takeover by the EU, as mandated by the UN, of the NATO led operation in Bosnia. I understand this will take place in December. Ireland already has 12 people working on that mission and we have agreed in principle to provide 30 and 50 personnel to the force. Some 7,000 are already participating in this operation and they will be replaced by 7,000 new personnel. This mission, known as Operation Althea, is the only current proposal for future peacekeeping operations although the situation will continue to develop.

Photo of Dinny McGinleyDinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Does the Minister envisage that the mechanism known as the triple-lock could be an impediment to the participation of Irish troops in peacekeeping missions abroad? I am referring to the requirement for Government approval, Dáil approval and UN mandate and the veto that a member of the Security Council could impose on Ireland's participation. This has happened in the past. Does the Minister consider that it could happen in the future? China imposed a veto when Ireland wished to participate in Kosovo or one of those eastern European countries.

Photo of Willie O'DeaWillie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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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.