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MORE IRISH SOLDIERS will be deployed on peacekeeping missions, if proposals to put more structures in place around sending troops to volatile areas is agreed.
An initiative, which is to be spearheaded by Ireland, proposes the introduction of “rotation cycles”.
The proposal, which is co-sponsored by Ireland, Sweden, Austria, the Netherlands and Belgium, will put in place a system that would see EU member States collaborate together to contribute to UN missions.
The plan hopes to offer more transparency and also deal with how countries can exit such operations.
One of the key concerns of member States relates to the management of the rotation of countries involved in UN Peacekeeping missions.
Paul Kehoe, the Minister of State for Defence, believes the UN from time to time finds itself in a “vicious circle” whereby potential contributors to UN missions decide not to commit personnel or capabilities as they feel they have no certainty in relation to exiting the operation.
This can make UN operations unattractive to States, and undermine the effectiveness and capacity of these operations, he said.
The new initiative launched at the EU Council Meeting of defence ministers today hopes to enhance the contribution of EU member States to the UN Blue Hat Operations across the globe.
“The initiative we have launched today is designed to provide a roadmap to enhance coordination among our EU partners to deliver greater certainty for member States in contributing to UN Missions,” said Kehoe.
Under the new plans, a member State may for example indicate that it is considering deploying a capability to a particular UN mission for a specific period, depending on the nature of that specific contribution.
In the case of on the ground personnel it may be for a number of years, while in respect of higher end capabilities it may be much shorter in terms of deployment duration.
The minister said the process would require close and detailed engagement with the UN, which has already pledged support for these proposals.
Over the last few months ongoing discussions have been held with the UN Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping, Jean-Pierre Lacroix about rolling out the sequenced rotation at the European level.
Kehoe said the plan can help deliver “sustained support for peacekeeping, while more European coordination can also facilitate several member States to deliver a contingent or capability by working closely together”.
“We will now work closely with EU colleagues, our co-sponsors the External Action Service and the UN to develop this framework for greater collaboration in support of UN Peacekeeping missions,” he said, adding that Ireland fully supports is engagement in EU Battlegroups, which Irish soldiers have taken part in over the years.
This year, Ireland currently has over 600 personnel serving overseas in 13 countries and on one sea.
As Ireland celebrates its 60th anniversary of unbroken service with the UN, Kehoe said he has been actively exploring ways to enhance the contribution of EU member states to the UN Blue Helmet Operations.
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Awaiting nationality details
@Rab C Nesbitt: why?
@Rab C Nesbitt: —-Or perhaps ethnic status, if theyr’e Irish.
@Rab C Nesbitt: the Journal won’t disclose, for fear of a backlash from the pc brigade
@Looney Tunes: crime is crime, irrespective of nationality or ethnicity. Apart from white Irish people of course, who obviously account for precisely 0% of all crimes that have ever occurred in this country.
@Kevin Collins: because it’s a big scam that mostly Certain nationalities pull, very common in UK but creeping in here, that said I know a person that pulled not far from me.
@Rab C Nesbitt: Indo give that information.
@Rab C Nesbitt: Deport them, instead of a slap on the wrist
@The quite man: and was the Garda arrested last week for insurance scam also a particular nationality?
@EillieEs: yes he was he was Irish, hope that clears it up for you.
@Rab C Nesbitt: Romanian…..I watched it all unfold this morning.
@The quite man: to read some of the comments here one would think only certain nationalities, but not Irish, were involved in insurance scams.
@Rab C Nesbitt: culchies
@Rab C Nesbitt: you read my mind sir reading further down it seems you were on the nail.
@EillieEs: it was me you the question to,I answered, if you have a problem with other comments you should ask them. I speak only for myself.
@Rab C Nesbitt: why ?I reckon us Irish here have an awful reputation for sueing at every opportunity. That’s why recreational businesses were closing last year as they couldn’t get cover due to all these lovely people sueing them.. and nothing wrong with at least half of them.. but they keep sueing..
@Patricia O’Reilly: that is the insurance co’s fault they wold rather pay out than face possibility of loosing in court and facing rediculious legal fees etc….
@EillieEs: The Irish are involved in scams but the use the Irish definition of scam called Brown Envelope
That’s a Romanian name. Is it just me or are there lots of these fraud cases involving them lately. Am I dreaming or were 114 of them arrested in one go, the largest mass atrest I’ve ever heard of, one day’s coverage then silence. We csn pursue politicians for weeks but not a peep out of national media on cases (lots) involving ‘new Irish’ or certain ethnic groups, maybe for fear of accusations of racism or noise from representative groups…. Very odd….
@Raymond McGee: Luckily the Oirish wud never do anything wrong but then these people are arrested! Why so eager to point the finger! Island of saints and scholars me Áras!
@Fabian Lee: Certainly not an island of saints but our non saints are no where near on par with the Romanian non saints. They’re on another level and making millions from it.
@Rab C Nesbitt: they obviously took higher level fraud in their leaving cert compered to irish
Constantin Iosca (40) of Scholars Walk, Lusk, Dublin. It was reported by the Irish Independent.
@Juls: what’s missing is the name of the bunch of lawyers lining their pockets.
Will be interesting to read the details of this.
Well that was just choc full of details. Can’t wait for the update “released pending further investigation”
whatever about the reporting it’s great to see a general increase by the Guards and the insurance companies in pursuing false claims. This used to be tolerated by a significant proportion of the population as a victimless crime. Well our premiums prove that’s not true. D’arcy was underrated in the work he did in this area. He was fighting against some strong forces. We are starting to see the benefit now.
Wasn’t there a guard also arrested for some insurance scam during the week?
Where was Mr. Cowen that day?
hes one of the iosca’s from lusk an irish man true n true judge says if he gets a job have to pay the insurance company costs what ye think
@Tommy the postman: McUisce!!!!
@Micheal S. O’ Ceilleachair: uisce batha matters in lockdown
Any chance they were Scobies?
@feargal wash your hands de cantuin: Always a chance..
Some addition to the country.
Anyone know the code for cyberflix
It looks like many comenting here are rasists and xenophobes. There are many good hard working Romanians! Dont you forget how Irish were treated in the UK and US!
have your say