FG: Army peacekeepers may be sent home

Irish troops will have to come home from peace-keeping duties abroad because the United States does not want American soldiers to be subject to trial for war crimes, according to Fine Gael's John Bruton.

"That is the absurd consequence of the United States veto in the UN on the continuation of the Bosnia peace-keeping forces and shows up the risks of the Irish government's policy in their Seville declaration of making all Irish military participation in overseas operations dependent on a UN mandate.

"This FF/PD policy will mean that Irish participation in peacekeeping within Europe itself will be totally dependent on powers that have a veto in the United Nations Security Council.

"The Taoiseach should think again about this unnecessary aspect of the declaration he made at Seville."