Dáil debates
Wednesday, 26 June 2013
Topical Issue Debate
Overseas Missions
3:15 pm
Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for having selected this topic. I suppose we are asking that the Minister for Defence, Deputy Shatter, avail of the opportunity to clear the record on this matter.
Last weekend there were newspaper reports that the Government was to examine the triple-lock mechanism that has guided Irish participation in international peacekeeping for so long. It was reported that the Minister was to bring a Green Paper to Cabinet this week. Earlier today, the Minister advised the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality that he hopes to bring that Green Paper before Cabinet before the break, which is a positive development. We were also told in media reports - not by the Minister today - that the triple-lock would be part of that review.
While it is unimaginable that the Minister will get his way on this, it is none the less important that we send a message to the Government at this stage that the triple-lock should be retained, and we will do everything we can as Opposition to retain it. While the Minister has never explicitly called for our neutrality to be abandoned, his distaste for neutrality is manifest from virtually all his public utterances. When we hear that he has his sights on the triple-lock, it is natural that there would be concern on this side of the House. Fine Gael has previous history in this regard. The Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, may remember that ten years ago Fine Gael introduced a Bill to remove the triple-lock. My party warned about this policy prior to the last general election, as did the Labour Party. Typically, when the programme for Government was drawn up, the Labour Party policy on the triple-lock went the way of its policy on child benefit and the €1 on a bottle of wine.
For my part and that of my party, I want to reaffirm our commitment to the triple-lock.
Ireland has always attached fundamental importance to the United Nations since it joined 58 years ago and, working with other UN members, Ireland has supported international action in areas such as disarmament, peacekeeping, development and human rights. We are strong and committed supporters of collective security through the United Nations, and this has been the stated policy of many Governments over the past 50 years. Along with this, we have endorsed and supported the primary role of the Security Council in the maintenance of international peace and security in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.
The Nice treaty 2002 with the associated Seville declaration endorsed the stance that the participation of the Defence Forces in overseas operations requires authorisation of the operation by the Security Council or the General Assembly of the United Nations, the agreement of the Government and the approval of Dáil Éireann in accordance with Irish law. The emphasis on the UN is not one we should lightly discard. I acknowledge that the UN is not perfect, but we must recognise that it confers a legitimacy on peacekeeping operations that other international organisations cannot confer. Furthermore, the legitimacy a UN mission confers bolsters the safety and security of our Defence Forces when they participate in peacekeeping missions. Obviously no mission will be without risk, but the absence of the blue hat will heighten the risk. With that in mind, I restate my belief that we should not abandon the triple lock. I hope the Minister can give a positive response.
I wish to apologise on behalf of the Minister for Defence for his being unavailable today. He had already scheduled a press conference regarding the Magdalen laundries. Ireland has accorded central importance to the United Nations since it became a member in 1955. Within the UN system, Ireland has supported effective international action in areas such as disarmament, peacekeeping, development and human rights. Article 24 of the UN Charter provides that: "Members confer on the Security Council primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and agree that in carrying out its duties under this responsibility the Security Council acts on their behalf."Ireland is a strong supporter of the UN and, in accordance with Article 24 of the UN Charter, respects the primary responsibility of the UN Security Council regarding the maintenance of international peace and security. The existence of such UN mandates confers legitimacy on, and acceptance of, particular peace support operations by groups engaged in conflict and by host states. Deployment of Defence Forces personnel on all peace support missions is subject to what is referred to as the triple lock, that is, Government, Dáil and UN approval. However, personnel may be deployed for training, for humanitarian operations and for other such reasons, under the authority of the Government in accordance with the provisions of the Defence (Amendment) Act 2006, which formalised arrangements in this regard. Participation in overseas peacekeeping missions is a key element of Ireland's foreign policy. It has been an important dimension in meeting Ireland's international obligations as a member of the UN and the EU. It has also been a key factor in Ireland's influence and credibility in the international arena and in advancing Ireland's foreign policy interests. Unfortunately, despite the ongoing efforts of the UN and other international organisations involved in conflict resolution, the continuing need for peacekeepers has never been greater. With the increasing use of more robust Chapter VII missions and operations in the past number of years, the UN has turned to regional organisations, including the European Union, the African Union and NATO, among others, to undertake and lead missions on its behalf. The European Union, the African Union and NATO are now major players in UN peacekeeping. Chapter VIII of the UN Charter has always provided for the use of regional organisations to undertake operations on behalf of the UN. Ireland has contributed peacekeepers to many of these regionally led missions in furtherance of its commitment to the UN and to UN peacekeeping in particular. Ireland's approach to international security is characterised, inter alia, by our willingness to participate in peace support operations throughout the world and by our commitment to achieving collective security through the United Nations, in particular. To date, the Defence Forces have served and continue to serve in a wide range of UN mandated multinational operations led by the UN, EU and NATO. My colleague, the Minister for Defence, is aware that successive Governments have made it clear that the triple lock provisions, as provided for in the Defence Acts, would continue to apply to service abroad by contingents of the Irish Defence Forces. Ireland's policy in this regard was most recently underpinned by the adoption by the people of the Lisbon treaty in 2009. Ireland's act of ratification of the Lisbon treaty was reinforced by the associated national declaration which states "that the participation of contingents of the Irish Defence Forces in overseas operations, including those carried out under the European common security and defence policy, requires (a) the authorisation of the operation by the Security Council or the General Assembly of the United Nations, (b) the agreement of the Irish Government, and (c) the approval of Dáil Éireann, in accordance with Irish law". The White Paper on defence, which was published in 2000, has provided the policy framework for defence for the past 13 years. In the period since its publication there have been significant changes in the defence and security environment and the defence policy framework has continued to evolve. In this context, the Government decided that there is a requirement to prepare a new White Paper on defence. This will provide the policy framework for defence for the next decade. As part of this process, the Minister for Defence initiated the preparation of a Green Paper on defence. The Green Paper is intended to inform and to stimulate a mature and informed debate about Ireland's defence policy. When published, it will initiate a broad public consultative process, which will provide for members of the public and interest groups to input their views as part of the process of developing the new White Paper on defence. The Minister for Defence hopes to publish the Green Paper and initiate the White Paper public consultative process in the coming weeks. It is anticipated that the new White Paper on defence will be approved by the Government and published before the end of June 2014.
3:25 pm
Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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I will not delay the House unduly. I welcome in principle what the Minister has said. He has given a clear assurance that he will not advocate a change in the triple lock arrangement, which is something we support enthusiastically.
I join the Minister of State in acknowledging the critical role the Irish Defence Forces have played in overseas missions over the years. Our role in peacekeeping has been quite outstanding and has brought great credit on the Defence Forces, the Irish Government and the Irish public. I also welcome the initiation of a Green Paper which will lead to a White Paper. If the Minister of State is to follow up a little on what he said, he might further confirm and clarify that in the course of the Green Paper and White Paper process there will not emanate from the Minister, Deputy Shatter, any attempt to promote the abandonment of the triple lock, which the Minister of State has spoken positively about and to which the Irish people in general are very strongly committed.
Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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I agree with the Deputy's comments on our peacekeeping operations abroad. The reply I gave was explanatory and the Deputy welcomed it. I assure him that when the Green Paper is published it will initiate a broad public consultative process. We hope all Members of the House and the general public will get involved in that process. I can also assure the Deputy that nobody will be driving anything without the public and the Dáil being very much involved following the publication of the Green Paper. The Minister anticipates that the Green Paper will be published before the end of July, when we will break for the summer recess. That will be followed by the White Paper. Everybody will have their say and there will be broad consultation. Everyone's views on the triple lock will be taken into consideration.
People have their own personal views on this. When the Deputy's party was in government it opposed a Private Members' Bill which we put forward when we were on the other side of the House. Undoubtedly, there are many different views across the House and everybody will have the chance to have their say during the consultative period for the White Paper.