Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 April 2024
115. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide the instances where Irish peacekeeping deployments were blocked at the UN Security Council level; the year this took place; the permanent member of the Security Council which issued the veto, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18614/24]
View answerIreland's commitment and support for the primary role of the United Nations, in the maintenance of international peace and security, is expressed in Ireland's long-standing tradition of participating in UN peacekeeping operations. Ireland is the only country with an unbroken record of service in UN peacekeeping missions since 1958.
The so-called Triple Lock mechanism sets out the conditions for the deployment of Irish Defence Forces' personnel for peacekeeping operations overseas. These include that the operation must be mandated by the UN, approved by the Government and approved by way of resolution of Dáil Éireann, where the size of the Defence Forces contribution is more than 12 personnel.
Under the UN Charter, the UN Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. In fulfilling its mandate, the Security Council may adopt a range of measures, including the establishment of a UN peace mission or the authorisation of action by a group of States or a regional organisation, such as the European Union or the African Union. However, no new peacekeeping missions have been approved by the UN Security Council since 2014.
The five permanent members of the Council can use their veto power to prevent the Security Council from adopting resolutions, including those related to the mandates of peacekeeping operations. In practice, the threat of a veto by a permanent member, rather than its actual use, is often enough to prevent the Council from taking action or to prevent a matter being formally considered by the Council.
Records on the use of vetoes at the United Nations Security Council are available at the United Nations Dag Hammarskjold Library, which is publicly accessible online.
Ireland has consistently called for the power of the veto held by the five permanent members of the Security Council to be abolished. This includes our active engagement in the Intergovernmental Negotiation process to reform the Council, where we have consistently made the case for abolition of the veto.
