Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 106: To ask the Minister for Defence the way in which the Defence Act 1960 needs to be amended in order that its wording more closely reflects current practice in the formulation of UN Security Council resolution endorsing peace support operations; the implications for Irish defence policy of such a change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17180/06]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland's participation in Peace Support Operations is subject to what has come to be known as the Triple Lock — i.e. Government decision, Dáil Éireann approval and UN authorisation. This will also be the case for any operations which may be undertaken on EU Battlegroups. This is entirely consistent with our foreign policy commitment to collective security which recognizes the primary role of the UN Security Council in the maintenance of international peace and security and our tradition of support for the United Nations.

I intend to introduce amending legislation, which will, amongst other things, update and amend the definition of "International United Nations Force", as provided for in current legislation. The amendment will reflect the changes in the organisation and structure of forces deployed on peace support operations by the UN, in particular, the use of regional organisations to organise forces to undertake peace support operations under a UN Security Council Resolution.

Over the years, UN authorisation of peace support operations has come in different forms in terms of the specific formulation of the mandate. The terms "establish", "authorise", "authorise/ support the establishment of", "calls on member States", have all been used at various junctures in UN Security Council Resolutions. It is important to ensure that future participation in peace support operations is not precluded due to the specific form of language in a UN Security Council Resolution. As such, the amendment to the definition of "International United Nations Force" will also encompass and reflect the wording of previous Security Council Resolutions and the variations in the language used in such Resolutions.