Smith wants restrictions on Army service lifted

UN: The Minister for Defence has surprised Cabinet colleagues by calling for the lifting of the restriction on Irish forces serving abroad without a United Nations mandate.

Speaking in Brussels, Mr Smith said the Government should consider amending the Defence Act to allow the Defence Forces to participate in EU-led operations not specifically authorised by the UN Security Council.

"If circumstances arise where we do not have a UN mandate but we have UN approval and an EU mandate, we are in a position to contribute, and I would look on those on a case-by-case basis," he said.

In a solemn declaration made at Seville last June, the Government sought to reassure voters that the Nice Treaty would not affect Irish neutrality by promising to hold a referendum before making any change in the rules governing the deployment of the Defence Forces abroad.

"Ireland reiterates that the participation of contingents of the Irish Defence Forces in overseas operations, including those carried out under the European security and defence policy, requires (a) the authorisation of the operation by the Security Council or the General Assembly of the United Nations, (b) the agreement of the Irish Government and (c) the approval of Dáil Éireann, in accordance with Irish law," the declaration said.

Because of this restriction, Irish forces have been unable to take part in the EU-led peacekeeping operation in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia that began last month. Mr Smith said the UN was increasingly eager for regional organisations such as the EU to take over peacekeeping operations and that Government policy should respond to that change.

"I think it's fair to say that in all the referenda which we have had, we have made it absolutely clear that we only operate under UN mandates. The circumstances appear now to be changing, and I want to have some flexibility," he said.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, who was also in Brussels yesterday, appeared nonplussed by news of Mr Smith's remarks.

"The Defence Minister attended a meeting today and he will be reporting to Government on the developments. These are all matters for consideration by Government in due course," he said.

The Tánaiste, Ms Harney, who was attending a meeting of EU enterprise ministers, made it clear that she had not been aware that Mr Smith was about to call for a change of policy.

Mr Smith said the Defence Act could be amended on a case-by-case basis to allow for Irish participation in operations without a UN mandate. He expressed confidence that, despite the Seville Declaration, the public would support such a change.

"I have no doubt that the Irish people, recognising the changed circumstances and the limited facility that I am advocating, would not stand in the way of participation," he said.

An Irish Times/MRBI poll found last week that 58 per cent of respondents believed Ireland should consider joining a common EU defence arrangement but should retain the right to opt into or out of military action on a case-by-case basis.