Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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45. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will outline those situations where he wishes to deploy Defence Forces personnel where he has been precluded from doing so by the triple lock; and if he will outline those overseas missions which Ireland has withdrawn from since 2020. [31297/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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It’s important to note in addressing this question, that no new peace support operations have been approved by the UN Security Council since 2014.

Operation Althea in Bosnia is a recent example where issues arose in 2022 around the continuation of a UNSC mandate for missions, where Ireland was faced with the possibility of having to withdraw our personnel from that mission as the rollover of the mandate was not immediately forthcoming. This was eventually resolved, but there continues to be concerns as Russia has become increasingly critical of the mission and it is a possibility that Russia may veto a future renewal.

Other examples of issues created by the lack of a UNSC mandate, were:

The EU's security mission in the Mediterranean (the then Operation Sophia) in 2015 - this mission did not secure a UN mandate until 2016. Ireland could not consider contributing to this mission until after this mandate was in place.

In 1999, a permanent member of the UN Security Council vetoed the renewal of the United Nations Preventive Deployment Force (UNPREDEP). Because the subsequent European Union peace operation in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYROM/CONCORDIA) did not have a UNSC mandate, Ireland was unable to participate in that mission.

In 2017, the Maritime Analysis Operation Centre (Narcotics), 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, Ireland could not even consider the possibility of sending a ship given that there would no UN mandate for such an operation.

A similar issue would arise in UNFIL should a renewed UN mandate not be forthcoming. The current mandate expires in August each year.

By making the changes proposed therefore, we will be removing the veto power of Security Council members over Ireland’s international engagement, while safeguarding the essential link with international law and good governance.

Such a change would, we believe, permit us to continue Ireland’s peacekeeping record, of which we are so justifiably proud.

Finally, in respect of overseas missions from which Ireland has withdrawn from since 2020, I wish to advise the deputy that Defence Forces participation in the MINURSO mission concluded in July 2021. Participation by Irish DF personnel in the MONUSCO and MINUSMA missions concluded in August and September 2022 respectively.