Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Generally, I welcome the Minister's response, but he seems to be placing a focus on limiting the role that the Defence Forces might play in conflict resolution. It is an area in which we can expand our activities. What we did in Mali and Somalia was of particular significance. For this reason, many others and I were disappointed when the Minister decided to withdraw our participants in Mali. Their work on human rights awareness was of great importance.

The Curragh Camp training centre is liaising and actively engaging with the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for Conflict Intervention in Maynooth. This is worthwhile and has the potential for further development. I would like our nation to build on its major international contribution to peacekeeping and on the work of Irish Aid and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade so that we might have an integrated approach to problems. Many of the situations in which peacekeeping and peace support are required derive from conflicts.

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