Fianna Fáil Defence Spokesperson Seán Ó Fearghaíl TD has called on Ministers Simon Coveney and Charlie Flanagan to provide clarity on what is being done to address the fact that Irish troops are now serving in a context and in a conflict that has changed utterly from when the Dáil discussed and agreed their deployment.
Deputy Ó Fearghaíl commented, “It is now clear that our troops are involved in a situation that is entirely different from the situation they were deployed to serve in. As this develops, the legality of the UN mandate under which they are serving comes under ever increasing strain.
“I welcome the news that Ministers Coveney and Flanagan are scheduled to hold discussions with UN officials, but I believe that public concern demands that we have greater clarity about what approach the Government is taking and what we are seeking from the UN. Irish troops were deployed to police a demilitarized zone in the Golan Heights. The fact that they are now serving in an utterly different context is a development that needs to be urgently addressed.
“I am also calling for the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice and Defence to be recalled immediately. There can be no room for party politics when it comes to the deployment of our armed forces and I believe it is important that representatives from all parties be involved in the parliamentary discussion of this situation as it evolves.”
