Ireland to lift restrictions on deployment of troops abroad
Photo: Ireland plans to lift restrictions on troop deployments (GettyImages)
Ireland is preparing to change legislation that restricts the deployment of more than 12 military forces abroad. This is part of the government's broader strategy to strengthen the country's defense capabilities, which also includes the purchase of fighter jets, The Guardian reports.
The Irish government has drafted a bill that would lift the de facto ban on deploying more than 12 troops abroad, as the country takes significant steps to strengthen its limited and weak armed forces.
The bill would change the so-called triple lock system, which requires approval from Dáil, the government, and the UN for deployments of more than 12 soldiers. The bill will be considered by the Irish cabinet this week.
These changes became possible after the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense, Simon Harris, stated that he was convinced of the need for Ireland to acquire a fleet of fighter jets.
In addition, Ireland's inability to defend its airspace is the subject of a High Court investigation to determine whether the Irish government allows the British Royal Air Force to enter Irish airspace for interception in the event of a hijacking.
Deputy Prime Minister of Ireland Simon Harris said that Ireland should change its approach to the deployment of its troops and not allow the UN Security Council to veto participation in peacekeeping missions, as the Security Council has not authorized such missions since 2014.
On February 27, Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Shannon Airport, during a brief stopover by the Ukrainian leader on his way to the United States.
During the meeting, Martin expressed Ireland's readiness to support Ukraine, in particular by sending peacekeepers, and discussed with Zelenskyy ways to achieve a stable peaceful resolution of the conflict and accelerate Ukraine's accession to the European Union.
