EU chief plays down block on Irish forces

IRELAND’s failure to participate in EU-led military operations without a UN mandate is not a big deal, the EU’s foreign policy chief said yesterday.

Ireland’s track record in peacekeeping is one of the best in the business, according to EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana.

Minister for Defence Michael Smith called earlier this week for the lifting of the restriction on Irish forces serving abroad without a UN mandate.