Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 June 2004
73 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Defence his views on whether the triple lock requires reform to enable the Defence Forces to serve on missions such as that taking place in Macedonia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17846/04]
View answerIreland's commitment to collective security is pursued through the United Nations, which has the primary role in the maintenance of international peace and security. The UN has no standing military forces of its own and relies on the voluntary provision of resources by willing members. At a time of geopolitical instability and change, I believe that it is important that the international community continue to support the United Nations in maintaining peace and stability.
At present, according to the Defence Acts, Defence Forces personnel can serve overseas only in an operation established by the UN Security Council or General Assembly.
The provisions for the participation of members of the Defence Forces in overseas missions are set out in the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1960, as amended by the Defence (Amendment) Act 1993, which provides that a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force may be despatched for service outside the State, as part of a particular international United Nations force.
Participation in an overseas operation requires UN authorisation, a specific Government decision and, where the level of participation is to exceed 12 members of the Defence Forces, the approval of Dáil Éireann.
While I would not wish that our legislative provisions should prevent the Defence Forces from participating in missions which support Ireland's underlying principles of providing support in the areas of international peacekeeping, humanitarian missions, or peace support operations, I believe that it is important at this time that our decision-making process continue to reflect our support for the United Nations.
In that regard, I believe that the circumstances which arose regarding the participation of the Defence Forces in the first EU peace support operation, in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, FYROM, are unlikely to recur. Those circumstances, it will be recalled, related to the fact that, while United Nations Resolution No. 1371 welcomed international efforts, including the efforts of the EU, to support the implementation of the Ohrid peace agreement in FYROM, it did not authorise an international United Nations force as required by the Defence Acts.
That was a unique situation, and I expect that future EU "Petersberg task" missions will have the required UN authorisation, thereby enabling the Government to consider Defence Forces participation on a case-by-case basis.
However, as I stated in the past, in a volatile international security environment, I believe that we should keep the matter under review to ensure that we are not found wanting should circumstances arise where the Government would wish to consider Defence Forces participation in a crisis calling for a response from the international community which conforms to Ireland's proud tradition of contributing to international peace and security.
