John Gormley
Question:90 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Defence the basis for the Government's assertion that Irish troops can only be sent abroad to perform peacekeeping and peace-enforcement missions that have a UN mandate. [13650/00]
Written Answers - Overseas Missions.
The statutory authority for the despatch of contingents of the Permanent Defence Force for service overseas is provided for in the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1960, and the Defence (Amendment) Act, 1993.
The Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1960, authorises, subject to the prior approval of Dáil Éireann, the despatch of a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force for service outside the State with an international force or body established by the Security Council or the General Assembly of the United Nations for the performance of duties of a police character. The Defence (Amendment) Act, 1993, dispensed with the requirement relating to duties of a police character, thus allowing for service with missions which have a peace-enforcement mandate.