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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 1 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 2

Other Questions. - Kosovo Crisis.

John Gormley

Question:

10 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Defence the role, if any, for Irish troops in any future interventions in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9391/99]

Brendan McGahon

Question:

51 Mr. McGahon asked the Minister for Defence the situation regarding the request for troops in Kosovo. [9239/99]

Michael Joe Cosgrave

Question:

67 Mr. Cosgrave asked the Minister for Defence if he will give details of the report which Irish officers brought back from Kosovo; their views in this regard; the way in which the Army could play a role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9274/99]

Liam Burke

Question:

86 Mr. L. Burke asked the Minister for Defence the situation regarding the Irish monitors who were based in Kosovo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9235/99]

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

113 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the situation regarding the request for troops in Kosovo. [9305/99]

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

142 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence if he will give details of the report which Irish officers brought back from Kosovo; their views in this regard; the way in which the Army could play a role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9334/99]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 51, 67, 86, 113 and 142 together.

A fact-finding team led by the Ambassador of Ireland to the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE, and including two officers of the Defence Forces, visited Kosovo from 6 to 11 November 1998. Their report recommended that it would be desirable that Ireland agree to participate in the Kosovo Verification Mission, KVM, which was established last year by the OSCE.

On 8 December 1998, the Government decided to allow up to 30 members of the Permanent Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána to participate in the mission. It was intended that up to 27 members of the Defence Forces and up to three members of An Garda Síochána would be deployed.

Five members of the Defence Forces were deployed at the request of the OSCE and served in key appointments with the mission until they were evacuated to Macedonia on the order of the Chairman in Office of the OSCE, on 20 March 1999 in advance of the NATO military action. The deployment of the further 22 military personnel had not been sought by the OSCE.

The mission is being downsized from 1,400 personnel approximately to a core group of 200 personnel approximately. The question of whether the five Irish military personnel will be required by the OSCE to remain as part of this core group has yet to be decided.

Deputies will be aware that there is no other mission currently deployed to the Kosovo area. While there has not been a request for the deployment of troops to the area, any such request, should it be received at a future date, will be considered taking account of, inter alia, the prevailing circumstances, including the security situation and within the context of the United Nations Stand-by Arrangements System, UNSAS.

Where are these personnel currently located? Do we still have troops stationed in Bosnia? Does the Minister share my concern, given that the situation seems out of control and attacks could occur on the ground? Having signed the Amsterdam Treaty and the Petersberg Tasks which include crisis management and averting humanitarian crises, could Irish troops find themselves on the ground?

We signed the Amsterdam Treaty which involves commitments in the Petersberg Tasks. The Government is placing the emphasis on peace keeping and humanitarian aid. The troops have been evacuated to Macedonia. There are about 50 troops in Bosnia. We are in constant touch to ensure that the safety of our personnel is guaranteed to the limit possible.

Has the Minister taken any precautions in recent days given that the temperature has increased rapidly?

The Deputy will appreciate that the military continually monitors the situation so we are in a position to make an instant judgment call if necessary.

What resources does the Minister have available to respond to a request to send in an emergency team in addition to the forces already in the area? Has he discussed this scenario with the Chief of Staff? Many Members share the Minister's expressed wish that we should have an emergency team of Defence Forces personnel who would be able to respond to international humanitarian crises.

When the crisis arose in Honduras I discussed the situation with the Chief of Staff and we were able to assemble a core team quickly. These personnel are currently in Honduras and were visited by the President in recent days. The UNSAS agreement with the UN obliges us to respond rapidly to any emergency which should arise within the resources available. I have not had recent discussions with the Chief of Staff on this issue as we are a little distance from such a request. However, we will give it immediate consideration if it arrives, within the resources available. Should it arise I will come back to the House for approval.

Does the Minister agree that he has an à la carte approach to the Petersberg Tasks? Is he saying he can pick and choose as he sees fit? Is it not the case that we signed up to this agreement and for the Petersberg Tasks and that we cannot simply cherry pick, as the Minister is doing?

Given the high probability of Ireland being asked to accommodate refugees from Kosovo, does the Minister envisage using some of the Army barracks which were recently vacated and which would obviously meet the demands that might arise at short notice?

In the first instance, the Government is concerned with ensuring that it provides as much financial support as possible to the aid agencies involved, such as the International Red Cross, the UN High Commission for Refugees and the European Union Humanitarian Office. That will ensure that as much as possible will be done for these people where they are at present. That is the most urgent task at hand.

Coming to this country must be seen as a last resort for the refugees given the distance involved. If that happens, we must take a humanitarian view with regard to the facilities we can provide. These people love their homeland and they want to return to it. Their homes have been burnt and they need help in many different ways. The hope is that there will be a quick return to peace, after which they can return to their homeland and pick up their normal lives and work. In the circumstances outlined by the Deputy, I will make whatever facilities I can available in the context of the demands that might be made on me at that time.

I cannot understand why Deputy Gormley has the single agenda of trying to find something terribly wrong with a country which has grown up, become a mature nation and is interested in playing the best possible international role it can in whatever field it is required. One of the reasons we concentrate on the Petersberg Tasks in the context of humanitarian aid and peacekeeping is the experience we have gained over 40 years of working in those areas. Ireland has a great deal of expertise and its people are welcomed all over the world when doing this work. We will apply our efforts to areas where our strengths lie—

But the Minister cannot pick and choose.

We are not an à la carte nation and we are not afraid to take on our responsibilities.

The Minister signed on the dotted line. Can he do that?

The Deputy should not downgrade us.

We cannot pick and choose.

The Deputy must allow the Minister to conclude.

We are capable of looking after ourselves. The Deputy should have confidence.

The Minister evaded the question.

I must bring Question Time to a conclusion as we have exceeded the time.

Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.

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