UN ‘must sanction’ new EU rapid army
The highly mobile US marine-type Battlegroups will start operations next year and be able to put 1,500 troops into a trouble spot within 10 days.
They will be six times faster than the current EU Rapid Reaction Force (RRF), which takes 60 days to put 60,000 troops into action.
They would be deployed principally in situations similar to the Rwanda genocide, where early action would have been vital.
But the new Defence Minister will face tough questions on Ireland’s role in this Battlegroups force and on our neutrality in the Dáil on Tuesday from the Green Party and from Sinn Fein.
“They will be trying to portray the image that I am another George Bush, which I am not. Any operation we get involved in will always be under the aegis of the United Nations,” Mr O’Dea added.
Ireland has already committed 850 troops to the EU’s Rapid Reaction Force and agreed in principle to support the new Battlegroups.
“But we will not participate in any armed operation unless it is sanctioned by the United Nations - we have to keep the treble lock on here that sees these operations supported by the Government, the Dáil and the United Nations,” Mr O’Dea said.
The Defence Minister was disturbed by allegations that illegally captured prisoners were being shipped through Shannon Airport by the US Government.
But he said he had checked this with his colleague, Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern, who assured him there was no evidence to prove this was happening.
Mr O’Dea did, however, concede that the Irish authorities have no power to check US planes going through Shannon because they are dealing with a foreign Government and they have to take their word on it.
But he said both he and the Foreign Affairs Minister had agreed to keep monitoring the situation. “As the local TD I would be very disturbed if this was happening - we would have to re-examine the whole situation if we do find concrete evidence,” Mr O’Dea said.
On the repeated allegations of bullying in the army, the minister said he is examining concrete options to ensure that privates are not afraid to make a complaint in the future for fear of victimisation.
