Irish News - Government Moves to End UN Security Council Veto on Irish Peacekeeping Missions

Government Moves to End UN Security Council Veto on Irish Peacekeeping Missions

The Irish Government is set to introduce draft legislation that would remove the requirement for UN Security Council authorisation for Ireland’s participation in peacekeeping missions.

The proposal, which will be brought to Cabinet on Tuesday by Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Simon Harris, seeks to allow the Irish Government and the Dáil to decide on future missions without being blocked by veto powers from permanent Security Council members like Russia.

Tánaiste: UN Paralysis Cannot Hold Back Irish Peacekeeping

Speaking on RTÉ's This Week, Harris stated:

"The Government is determined to move on this issue. Ireland's proud tradition in peacekeeping cannot be held up by paralysis at the UN."

He emphasised that Ireland will still consider the UN Charter in future peacekeeping decisions but argued that the current system is flawed:

"It is not appropriate for the five permanent members of the UN Security Council to have a veto on such a decision—Russia or anyone else."

Harris pointed out that no peacekeeping mission had been authorised by the Security Council since 2014, meaning that veto powers are obstructing essential operations.

Could Irish Troops Be Sent to Ukraine?

When asked whether Irish troops could participate in a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, Harris said that while no decision has been made, Ireland cannot rule itself out of such operations.

"Under the current rules, the Government would effectively have to seek Russian permission. That is a rather bizarre situation."

The Tánaiste also stated that the legislative changes are not linked to Ireland's neutrality, reaffirming that Ireland will remain militarily neutral and opposed to joining military alliances.

Increase in Deployment Limit Without Dáil Approval

Under the current rules, up to 12 members of the Irish Defence Forces can be deployed without triggering the triple lock.

The new legislation proposes increasing this limit to 50 personnel, allowing Ireland to quickly respond to crises, such as recent evacuations from Afghanistan and Sudan.

"Ireland has to be agile and be in a position to get Irish citizens out of danger," Harris explained.

What’s Next?

The Cabinet will review the legislation on Tuesday.
If approved, the proposal will go to the Dáil for debate and potential enactment.
The move is likely to spark debate on Ireland’s neutrality and global peacekeeping role.

If passed, the legislation will mark a significant shift in how Ireland deploys its peacekeepers, removing reliance on the UN Security Council and allowing Ireland to act more independently in global peacekeeping efforts.