UN peacekeepers recognition
Deputy Callaghan marked UN Peacekeepers Day and paid tribute to Irish personnel serving worldwide. The Tánaiste joined the tribute, noted her own service, and praised peacekeepers including those deployed in southern Lebanon.
As it does every year, the UN today, 29 May, marks the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. This day serves to honour their dedication, bravery and sacrifice, and I pay particular tribute to the Irishmen and Irishwomen who have served, and continue to serve, our country with distinction and honour at home and internationally. As the Tánaiste knows, Irish peacekeeping began in 1958 and Ireland currently has the longest unbroken peacekeeping record of any country in the world.
This year's theme for the International Day of UN Peacekeepers is the future of peacekeeping, which reflects the evolving nature of peace operations in a complex world. With that in mind, will the Tánaiste update the House as to Ireland's continuation in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL? As always, I cannot mention UNIFIL without mentioning Private Sean Rooney. Can we please ensure that we keep applying pressure to ensure his killers are brought to justice?
Comment on this
I thank the Deputy. There is a particular poignancy when she raises this issue because I am conscious that she served with distinction as part of our peacekeeping mission. I thank her for her service. I join with her on what is the International Day of UN Peacekeepers in celebrating the vital role that our peacekeepers play across the world. It is now more crucial than ever before, at a time when the global security environment has never been more volatile or uncertain. I particularly think today about the Irish peacekeepers deployed in southern Lebanon as part of the UNIFIL mission. They are not just promoters of peace but also work every day to support communities, instil hope and make a positive difference to people's lives. I was delighted and honoured to visit them in recent weeks.
On international peacekeeping day, I am happy to do as the Deputy asked and confirm that I secured Cabinet approval this week to renew our mandate at UNIFIL for another 12 months.
On the killing of Private Sean Rooney, we absolutely will continue to raise the issue at every opportunity. His family needs justice. There needs to be accountability. That must happen and the Lebanese authorities must bring it about.