asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if there are any suggestions that Irish troops may be sent on a peace-keeping mission to Vietnam.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Vietnam Peace-Keeping Mission.
91.
There are no troops as such on an international peace-keeping mission in Vietnam. The Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam, signed in Paris on 27th January of this year established an International Commission of Control and Supervision, composed of representatives of Canada, Hungary, Indonesia and Poland. The commission's function is to report to the four parties to the agreement on matters relating to the control and supervision of the implementation of the following provisions of the agreement :
—the enforcement of the cease-fire through South Vietnam;
—the withdrawal from South Vietnam of all foreign troops;*
—the dismantlement of foreign military bases in South Vietnam;
—the return of captured military personnel and foreign civilians of the parties to the agreement.
As the Deputy will be aware, Canada decided recently to withdraw from the commission. Since then, there has been some speculation in the news media that one of several countries, including Ireland, might be asked to participate in the work of the commission, in the place of Canada. No approach in the matter has, however, been made to the Government.
*The term "foreign troops" means US forces and those of other foreign countries allied with the US and South Vietnam; the term does not include North Vietnamese troops.
Can the Minister say what the attitude of the Government might be to such a proposal?
Any such request would be given careful examination by the Government but we have received no such approach.
Can the Minister say whether the Canadian decision is final or whether it may be reviewed following the recent agreement signed between the American President's representative and the North Vietnamese representative?
I am not aware of any proposal to review it but I have no direct information on that subject.