Harris can't see 'any scenario' where Ireland would join Trump's board of peace

Tánaiste Simon Harris said there were several 'red flags' associated with Donald Trump’s plan, including the fact Russian president Vladimir Putin may be joining a board 'with the word peace in it'

Tánaiste Simon Harris said the signing ceremony for the board of peace 'could not be further removed from the original conversation' at the UN about the construction of a board to oversee peace in Gaza. Picture: Conor Ó Mearáin / Collins

Tánaiste Simon Harris has said he cannot see “any scenario” where Ireland would join US President Donald Trump’s "so-called board of peace” as currently constructed.

Speaking in the Dáil, the Fine Gael leader said there were several “red flags” associated with Mr Trump’s plan, including the fact Russian president Vladimir Putin may be joining.

There are concerns among world leaders Mr Trump's board of peace would undermine the United Nations.

Some 60 nations, including Ireland, were invited to join. The United Kingdom and several other European countries, including Sweden, Norway, and France, have confirmed they will not join.

It was initially proposed as part of plans to end the war in Gaza. However, Mr Trump, who would serve as chairman with veto powers, has said it could be extended to tackle other global conflicts.

In the Dáil on Thursday, Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan asked the Tánaiste to confirm the Irish Government would not sign up to the board of peace, as he expressed concerns about the plans.

Mr O’Callaghan noted Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also joining the board of peace, but could not travel to Davos for the signing ceremony on Thursday “because as an indicted war criminal, he fears being arrested if he turns up”.

The Tánaiste told the Dáil the matter would be discussed at a meeting of EU leaders In Brussels on Thursday evening.

“Unlike some governments around the world, I don't stand up and single-handedly make decisions and announce them without engagement with colleagues,” he said.

But my personal view, and the view I know of Government colleagues, is that as currently constructed, I can't see any scenario in which Ireland can participate in the so-called board of peace.

“It's a very different situation were we back to where the UN was on November 17, in terms of countries coming together in a board to genuinely try and help move phase two of resolution to the horrific conflict and, indeed, genocide, that we've seen in Gaza.” 

The Tánaiste said the signing ceremony for the board of peace “could not be further removed from the original conversation” at the UN about the construction of a board to oversee peace in Gaza.

Mr Harris said he believed there were a “series of red flags” with Mr Trump’s proposals.

This includes, he said, the fact Putin was considering joining a board “with the word peace in it”.

He also said the €1bn joining fee “did not sit well”, as Mr Harris vowed the Irish Government would not support “anything that in any way seeks to undermine, replace or usurp the United Nations”.

Speaking in Davos, Taoiseach Micheál Martin told RTÉ there were “issues” and the Irish Government was examining the idea.