Ireland’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Helen McEntee, is to bring forward legislation aimed at ensuring Irish troops can remain part of any future international peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.
The issue is due to be discussed amongst EU defence ministers at a meeting in Brussels today. The talks are intended to prepare the groundwork, with more details expected when EU foreign ministers meet in November.
The future of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) is currently in doubt.
Its current mandate, established under UN Security Council Resolution 1701 in 2006, is due to expire at the end of December this year.
Although an extension of the existing UN mandate could be possible, a new mandate to replace UNIFIL is understood to be more likely.
Alternatively, the EU could set up its own peacekeeping mission in the region, perhaps in parallel to the UN.
Speaking this morning, Helen McEntee said Ireland needed to be prepared for various outcomes.
“From an Irish perspective, it is absolutely essential that we are in a position to be part of any new mission on the ground,” she said.
She said she would put forward a change in the law to amend Ireland’s ‘triple lock’, allowing Irish troops to continue serving regardless of how the international mission develops.
“I will be bringing forward legislation to amend our triple lock legislation to make sure that no matter what happens, we have a presence on the ground,” McEntee said.
The ‘triple lock’ is a mechanism requiring United Nations authorisation, government approval and parliamentary backing before more than 12 Irish troops can deploy overseas.
The Irish Times reported over the weekend that amending the law might not be straight forward for the government.
Helen McEntee said Ireland has an “unbelievably proud history of peacekeeping in the Lebanon.”