Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

At the United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial which was held in Accra, Ghana in December of last year, Ireland pledged financial support of some $469,000 towards three worthwhile UN initiatives in support of UN peacekeeping. This money was owed from the United Nations to Ireland in respect of contributions towards closed peacekeeping missions. The Department of Foreign Affairs redirected the funding towards these UN peacekeeping projects as part of Ireland's pledges made at the 2023 United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial.

The three specific UN projects are:

1. Building and Maintenance of Digital Mental Health Platforms for UN Uniformed Personnel.

The Irish Defence Forces are strongly engaged with a UN working group focused on the development of a mental health strategy for peacekeepers. It has been identified that a contribution of $249,000 (€231,176) from Ireland will fully fund the design phase of developing of a mental health app by the UN with the aim of supporting the mental health and well-being of uniformed personnel deployed on missions. Ireland’s role in supporting this project will in due course, be acknowledged by the UN when the Mental Health app is launched.

2. Strategic Communications - Addressing Mis/Disinformation in UN Peacekeeping settings

Misinformation and disinformation presents a threat to the safety and security of peacekeepers as well as the ability of missions to implement their mandate. The UN has approved a project aimed at the development of an integrated approach to misinformation, disinformation and hate speech in peacekeeping settings. Ireland has Pledged $110,000 (€102,000) towards this initiative.

3. Accelerating implementation of the Women Peace and Security Agenda

The UN’s Department of Peacekeeping Operations plays a key role is supporting the work of the Women Peace and Security Agenda (WPS). It proposes to accelerate this work in 2024 however they are facing a funding gap and have sought financial support from member states. During Ireland’s time on the UN Security Council, we prioritised WPS and consistently called on the UN to ensure its implementation on the ground through missions and field offices. Ireland has Pledged $110,000 (€102,000) towards this project.

In addition, Ireland renewed an existing of a commitment to continue the deploy of a full-time expert C-IED trainer to UN Mine Action Service for a further two years to support the provision of pre-deployment training to partners.

Furthermore, Ireland renewed the training pledges originally made at the United Nations Peacekeeping Defence Ministerial held in Vancouver in 2017, when Ireland pledged certain training capabilities for delivery in Ireland at the UN Training School in the Curragh (UNTSI). The military courses were in response to an identified UN need and offered as part of the UN Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System.

Ireland has successfully delivered on our training pledges to the UN and is strongly recognised for its expertise in delivering these courses, particularly the Protection of Civilians course, Civil Military Relations, International Human Rights Train the Trainers Courses.

Countries who are members of the United Nations can apply to participate on courses being conducted at the UN Training School in the Curragh.