Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim céad fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. Ach an oiread le Seanadóirí eile, tá áthas orm a bheith in ann labhairt ar an díospóireacht seo agus a bheith in ann ár mbeannachtaí agus ár mbuíochas a chur in iúl do na saighdiúrí cróga agus na daoine ar fad a bhíonn ag plé leis na misin seo go dtí Arda Golan - an dream atá tagtha abhaile agus ríméad orthu agus ar a gclanna go bhfuil siad slán sábháilte agus an dream atá ag dul anonn ag seasamh ar son na síochána.

I welcome the time set aside to discuss this issue in the Seanad.

I am sure we all share the genuine concern for the health and safety of Irish troops stationed in the Golan Heights on the UNDOF mission. Irish Defence Force personnel who have served on UN peacekeeping missions have been a credit to the country through their professional conduct and exceptional work. Sinn Féin is committed to positive Irish neutrality and an independent foreign policy. We believe Ireland should actively work to promote conflict resolution, peaceful democratic settlements and pathways and mechanisms to facilitate the self-determination of peoples throughout the world. The State's history of serving in UN blue helmet peacekeeping missions is a matter of pride and enhances our standing as a neutral state. However, sending troops to the UNDOF mission is not a simple or straightforward decision. As we know, UNDOF was set up in 1974 to patrol and monitor the strip between Syria and Israel, but it has been increasingly caught up in the civil war in Syria with rebel groups attacking UN bases and kidnapping peacekeepers.
Ireland was asked to provide troops to the mission after Austria announced it was pulling out over security concerns and because the EU failed to renew its arms embargo on Syria. When this issue was debated in the Dáil on 18 July 2013, my colleague, Deputy Seán Crowe, made it clear that Sinn Féin felt the current mandate for UNDOF was not fit for purpose and that EU decisions, coupled with the continued erosion of Irish neutrality by consecutive Governments, robbed Irish troops of their neutrality on this mission. As a result, Sinn Féin voted against sending Irish troops on the UNDOF mission and we stand over that decision.
However, although we opposed this deployment we accept that the Government did get Dáil approval to deploy troops. Ever since we have used all opportunities to ensure their safety is of paramount concern. Almost all UN troops in the region are now deployed in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights area, including Irish troops, and that the UN Security Council has strongly backed the UNDOF mission. However, we now have a situation where the US and some EU states, with the support of some Arab countries, have carried out air strikes against ISIS targets in Syria and Iraq. This muddles the complexity of the Syrian war with many neighbouring countries supporting rebel and radical Islamist groups while at the same time they symbolically assist the US to bomb ISIS targets, supposedly without the approval of the Syrian Government. Is the Minister of State concerned about the reports that the al-Nusra front, an al-Qaeda aligned group, has stated that it will seek revenge for these attacks? What steps are being taken in this regard? In the past the group has attacked the Golan Heights and taken peacekeepers hostage. Are the Minister of State and Government confident that everything possible is being done to ensure the safety of Irish peacekeepers on these missions?
Kurdish defence forces have bravely fought off Islamic jihadists since 2012 and Kurdish areas have become a haven for refugees fleeing persecution, but there is now a fear that they may be overrun. According to reports, more than 60,00 Kurds have fled from ISIS across the Turkish border in the past few days. Sinn Féin supports the Government's humanitarian support for the vulnerable and impoverished Syrian population, and we would support Government initiatives to increase State humanitarian aid. Indeed, we believe aid should be sent to Kurdish regions in Iraq and Syria, and this should be negotiated directly with Kurdish officials. We also believe that all sides in the conflict should immediately begin a cessation of violence and enter into inclusive peace talks. We support the troops that are there and call on the Government to do more.
We all value Irish neutrality. Interesting work is currently being done by the Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions on foot of a petition by Shannonwatch, which has called into question the issue of Irish neutrality because of the use of Shannon Airport by US military aeroplanes etc. The process is ongoing but we have a very interesting engagement in Shannon Airport with the gardaí and airport authorities last week. I am sure when the committee completes its deliberations it will produce proposals on the issues. It is a matter of concern for many citizens that the use of the airport brings our neutrality into question. It is something we should examine at a future date.
Idir an dá linn, tugann muid tacaíocht do na saighdiúrí agus do na mná agus na fir cróga a bhí amuigh ansin ag seasamh ar son na síochána.