The Government's decision yesterday to send 10 Defence Force officers to join a European Union military force in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) does not need the Dáil's approval, it has emerged.
Under existing legislation, the Government does not have to get approval for foreign deployments of Irish troops unless it is sending 12 or more officers or other ranks.
"As the number of Defence Forces personnel being deployed to this mission does not exceed 12, Dáil approval is not required under the terms of the Defence Acts," said the Minister for Defence, Willie O'Dea.
"I do, however, intend to make a statement in Dáil Éireann outlining the proposed deployment as a matter of courtesy to the House and Opposition parties," he declared, following the Cabinet's approval.
Historical ties between the Defence Forces and the Democratic Republic of Congo date back to 1960 when the State decided to send troops abroad for the first time, on foot of a UN request. Twenty-six died, including nine in the Niemba ambush.
The 10 officers will join a 400-strong EU force in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, for four months, while a further 1,500 EU soldiers will be stationed outside the capital as a rapid reaction force. The majority of both forces are coming from Germany and France. Austria, Belgium, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom are also contributing.
The UN's Security Council established the 16,000-strong UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) in February 2000 under Resolution 1291. Ireland has already sent three military observers.
Elections are due to take place in the war-torn country, where over four million have been killed in the last decade, under UN supervision in July, though significant violence is feared.
The UN invited the EU last December to consider deploying "a suitably earmarked force reserve that could enhance MONUC's quick-reaction capabilities during and immediately after the electoral process".
Last night, the Minister for Defence said: "Ireland from the outset has been positively disposed towards the proposed mission and has supported a positive response from the EU to the UN.
"Ireland's proposed contribution of up to 10 personnel is well in line with that of other states and has to be looked at (given) our existing major commitments to peacekeeping operations in Africa and in the Balkans," Mr O'Dea said.
Two Irish officers have already been assigned to the operational headquarters for the mission in Potsdam, Germany, for pre-mission training, while other places on the list have already been advertised and filled.
The Cabinet approval "once again demonstrates Ireland's active support for peacekeeping in Africa and the transition to democracy in the Democratic Republic of Congo", he said.
The State has contributed €500,000 towards the cost of the elections, while €4 million has been provided this year to help alleviate the country's "dire" situation, where 38,000 a month are still dying in the conflict.