Post by earl on Jun 26, 2008 15:34:25 GMT
THIS time 50 years ago a group of Irish Defence Force officers were preparing to deploy on Ireland's first United Nations peacekeeping mission.
Their participation in UNOGIL, the United Nations Observer Group in Lebanon, marked the start of our very proud and very successful 50 years of UN peacekeeping and peace support missions. Today over 810 members of Oglaigh na hEireann are serving with courage and commitment on 12 different missions, in some of the world's most difficult trouble spots.
I have been honoured and privileged to witness their work at first hand from Lebanon to Liberia and from Kosovo to Bosnia. Last week I travelled to Chad to see the dangers that our personnel face, and the hardships they endure as part of their mission.
I also saw the enormous difference they are making to the lives of the victims of the Darfur tragedy.
The banditry and intimidation that had made the delivery of humanitarian aid to the refugee and displaced persons camps all but impossible has reduced dramatically since their deployment. They, along with 3,000 other EU troops serving in Chad under a UN mandate, are making a vital contribution to bringing stability to this key troubled region in Africa.
This historic anniversary is being celebrated with great pride. Later today there will be a major Defence Forces ceremony at McKee Barracks recognising the many tours of duty undertaken by generations of Irish servicemen and women.
It will feature veterans from all the major missions and a keynote address by An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen. A special commemorative stamp to coincide with today's events will also be launched by An Post.
Participation in overseas peacekeeping missions is a key element of Ireland's foreign policy and has been an important dimension in meeting Ireland's international obligations as a member of the UN and the EU. For over 50 years the United Nations has symbolised Ireland's best hopes for a world at peace. The United Nations stands for the rule of law, for social and political justice and for the peaceful settlement of disputes.
As a militarily neutral country our participation in peacekeeping missions is decided on a case-by-case basis and in line with Irish constitutional and legislative arrangements, namely the "triple lock" of UN mandate and Government, Dail approval.
Óglaigh na hEireann has gained extensive experience in peacekeeping over the years and is regularly approached as a source of peacekeeping personnel and expertise. Ireland is proportionately a very large peacekeeping contributor, relative to our size and our available resources and capabilities, both financial and military. Since 1958, Ireland has participated continuously in United Nations peacekeeping operations, a service which has comprised more than 59,000 individual tours of duty involving 74 missions.
Oglaigh na hEireann have brought great honour on Ireland through their participation in peace support operations. However, this participation has come at a high price. Sadly, 85 members of the Defence Forces have paid the ultimate price in the cause of peace. We remember those peacekeepers and their families today. Ar dheis De go raibh a n-anamacha dilse.
Over the past number of years, the nature of peacekeeping operations has changed extensively, from traditional UN led "Blue Hat" missions, to multifaceted regionally led peace operations, with the onus being placed on regional states to organise and assemble peacekeeping troops for the purpose of discharging a UN mandate.
The Defence Forces have shown the capacity and experience to respond to the changing nature of peace support operations by modernising and enhancing their capabilities. We are ideally placed to respond to the more complex and demanding peace support and crisis management operations of today. The Government's investment, over the past 10 years, in equipment, training and infrastructure means that we now have the capacity to undertake the most difficult missions.
Ireland's expertise and experience in peacekeeping has been recognised with two major appointments over the past year.
ON August 1, 2007, Ireland assumed the role of Framework Nation for the Multinational Task Force Centre in the International Security Presence in Kosovo (KFOR) for a period of 12 months. The appointment of an Irish Brigadier General to command the 1,800 troops from six nations is an indication of the high standing of the Irish Defence Forces on the international scene.
In October 2007 one of our most senior and experienced Irish officers, Lt Gen Pat Nash, was appointed as EU Operation Commander of the EU-led UN-mandated EUFOR operation in the Republic of Chad and the Central African Republic. This is even further recognition of the professional standing and experience of the Irish Defence Forces in the field of peace support operations generally.
As well as the larger missions, we have also contributed large numbers of personnel as staff officers, advisers, military observers, monitors and experts on missions in countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Ivory Coast, Western Sahara and also in the Middle East.
All our troops serving overseas, along with their families and loved ones, are in our thoughts and prayers today. A great debt of gratitude is due to all serving members of Oglaigh na hEireann and to veterans of the Defence Forces across the country, for their courage and commitment during the past 50 years.
Their dedication and service contributes in no small measure to the excellent reputation that Ireland holds as a member of the international community and as a major contributor to international peace and security across the globe.
- Willie O'Dea