The UN mandate for the EU Mediterranean naval mission lapsed on Sunday
Minister for Defence and Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee
Defence Minister Helen McEntee said it is a matter of “deep regret” that Ireland had to withdraw from Operation Irni as the UN Security Council has not renewed its mandate.
The UN mandate for the EU Mediterranean naval mission, which is focused on enforcing an arms embargo on Libya, lapsed on Sunday. Using aerial, satellite and maritime assets, the mission’s main purpose is to stop and inspect ships that may be trafficking arms into the region.
Ireland currently has four personnel on the mission and their participation is contingent on a UN mandate, meaning they will have to cease their service, Minister McEntee has said. The operation was launched in March 2020 and is headquartered in Rome, with 24 EU member states contributing.
Minister McEntee met with the Defence Forces personnel that have been pulled from the mission today. She said: “It is a matter of deep regret that the United Nations Security Council mandate for Operation Irini has been allowed to lapse without renewal.
Members of the Irish Defence Forces (file photo)(Image: Collins)
“The Mission, which is undertaking very valuable work in the Central Mediterranean Sea has clear benefits for the Defence Forces, in terms of the participation of personnel from across the services – but most particularly in terms of the Air and Naval Service focus and opportunity.”
Despite fierce push-back from the opposition, the Government is currently progressing the Defence (Amendment) Bill which would scrap the current triple lock mechanism. This would abolish the requirement for a UN Security Council mandate to deploy Irish Defence Forces personnel abroad.
Speaking today, Minister McEntee said the necessity to withdraw Ireland from Operation Irni “illustrates clearly the constraints in which we have to operate because of the requirements of the Triple Lock.”
She added: “I have been consistently very clear that any considerations on engagement in international peacekeeping should be within Ireland’s exclusive sovereign control and decision-making on this should be purely within the remit of the Government and Oireachtas, which have been democratically elected by the people of this country.”
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