Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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13. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of proposed peacekeeping missions involving the deployment of Defence Forces personnel that have been vetoed by a vote of the United Nations Security Council in the years 2001 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9906/25]

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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14. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of proposed peacekeeping missions involving the deployment of Defence Forces personnel that have been vetoed by a vote including a vote from the United States on the United Nations Security Council in the years 2001 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9907/25]

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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15. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of proposed peacekeeping missions involving the deployment of Defence Forces personnel that have been vetoed by a vote including a vote from the Russian Federation on the United Nations Security Council in the years 2001 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9908/25]

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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16. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of proposed peacekeeping missions involving the deployment of Defence Forces personnel that have been vetoed by a vote including a vote from China on the United Nations Security Council in the years 2001 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9909/25]

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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17. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of proposed peacekeeping missions involving the deployment of Defence Forces personnel that have been vetoed by a vote including a vote from the United Kingdom on the United Nations Security Council in the years 2001 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9910/25]

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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18. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the number of proposed peacekeeping missions involving the deployment of Defence Forces personnel that have been vetoed by a vote including a vote from France on the United Nations Security Council in the years 2001 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9911/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 to 18, inclusive, together.

Under the UN Charter, the UN Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. In fulfilling its mandate, the Security Council may adopt a range of measures, including the establishment of a UN peace mission or the authorisation of action by a group of States or a regional organisation, such as the European Union or the African Union.

For Ireland under our existing legislation, we would only consider joining a peace support operation whether its led by the UN, EU, or another regional organisation once a UN mandate has been approved, the questions poised are therefore moot.

However, the five permanent members (P5) of the Council can use their veto power to prevent the Security Council from taking decisions, including those related to the mandates of peacekeeping operations. In practice, the threat of a veto by a permanent member, rather than its actual use, is often enough to prevent the Council from taking action.

Ireland has consistently opposed all use of the veto by the P5. During our most recent Security Council term from 2021-2022, the veto was used on a number of occasions to prevent the Council from taking action on critical issues. In December 2021, Russia vetoed a draft resolution on Climate and Security, an initiative of Ireland and Niger that had the support of 113 UN Member States. Since February 2022, Russia has used its veto power to prevent the Council from taking action to end its illegal war in Ukraine. Since October 2023 the US, China and Russia have used their veto in relation to the situation in the Middle East on numerous occasions, including the on the Palestinian question.

When the possibility of a veto emerged in 2022 in relation to the renewal of UN authorisation for EUFOR Operation Althea in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ireland, as a member of the UN Security Council at the time, played a key role in securing the renewal of the UN mandate for this mission, where members of the Defence Forces are currently deployed. Had we been unsuccessful in our efforts however, our contingent would have had to withdraw, given the current provisions under the Triple Lock.

Another example occurred in 1999, where a permanent member of the UN Security Council vetoed the renewal of the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP). As the subsequent EU peace operation in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia did not have a Security Council mandate, Ireland was unable to participate in that mission.

More recently – in 2015 - the EU established a security mission in the Mediterranean known as Operation Sophia. This mission did not have a UN mandate until 2016, and Ireland as a result could not participate until then. The same concerns as regards Operation Althea have since arisen, where a potential UNSC member veto would have resulted in Ireland having to withdraw from the Mission.

Finally, in 2017, the Maritime Analysis Operation Centre Narcotics, (MAOC(N)) which is an international maritime intelligence centre supported by the EU, requested a Naval Service ship to assist with maritime drug interdiction operations. Although Ireland is a strong supporter of the Centre and was in fact one of the founding members, a ship could not be sent given that there would no UN mandate for such an operation.