Defence Forces Review 2018 Defence Forces Review 2018
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Defence Forces Review 2018 Defence Forces Review 2018 ISSN 1649-7066 Published for the Military Authorities by the Public Relations Section at the Chief of Staff’s Branch, and printed at the Defence Forces Printing Press, Infirmary Road, Dublin 7. Amended and reissued - 29/01/2019 © Copyright in accordance with Section 56 of the Copyright Act, 1963, Section 7 of the University of Limerick Act, 1989 and Section 6 of the Dublin University Act, 1989. 1 PEACEKEEPING AND PEACE MAKING INTERVENTIONS Launch of the Defence Forces Review In conjunction with an Academic Seminar National University of Ireland, Galway 22nd November 2018 Defence Forces Review 2018 RÉAMHRÁ Is pribhléid dom, mar Oifigeach i bhfeighil ar Bhrainse Caidreamh Poiblí Óglaigh na hÉireann, a bheith páirteach i bhfoilsiú 'Athbhreithniú Óglaigh na hÉireann 2018’ . Mar ab ionann le foilseacháin sna blianta roimhe seo, féachtar san eagrán seo ábhar a chur ar fáil a bheidh ina acmhainn acadúil agus ina fhoinse plé i measc lucht léite 'Athbhreithniú'. Is téama cuí agus tráthúil an téama atá roghnaithe don eagrán seo - Coimeád na Síochána agus Idirghabhálacha d'fhonn Síocháin a dhéanamh,, mar go dtugtar aitheantas ann do chomóradh 60 bliain ó thug Óglaigh na hÉireann faoi oibríochtaí coimeádta síochána na Náisiún Aontaithe ar dtús chomh maith le comóradh 40 bliain ó imscaradh Óglaigh na hÉireann go UNIFIL den chéad uair. Ba mhaith liom aitheantas a thabhairt don Cheannfort Rory Finegan as an obair mhór a chuir sé isteach agus as a thiomantas chun foilseachán na bliana a chur ar fáil. Tugtar aitheantas freisin don obair thábhachtach agus chóir a rinne comheagarthóirí ‘Athbhreithniú’ . Tá Óglaigh na hÉireann buíoch don fhoireann acadúil in OÉ Gaillimh, go háirithe don Dr. Ray Murphy, Ionad na hÉireann do Chearta an Duine, don Dr. Brendan Flynn, Léachtóir Sinsearach i Scoil na hEolaíochta Polaitiúla agus na Socheolaíochta agus don Dr. Niall Ó Dochartaigh, Léachtóir Sinsearach i Scoil na hEolaíochta Polaitiúla agus na Socheolaíochta, as a gcuid rannpháirtíochta agus léargas tairbheach araon. Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghlacadh le foireann Chlóphreasa Óglaigh na hÉireann, agus leis an Saighdiúir Singil Shane Curran go háirithe as tabhairt faoin obair chúramach agus mhionsonraithe a bhí i gceist chun na hailt atá in Athbhreithniú a chur in eagar agus a leagan amach. Mar fhocal scoir, ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghlacadh le gach rannpháirtí a chuir a gcuid páipéar ar fáil le breithniú agus le foilsiú. Is féidir tuilleadh cóipeanna de 'Athbhreithniú' a fháil ó Bhrainse Caidreamh Poiblí Óglaigh na hÉireann ag [email protected] nó ar líne ag http://www.military.ie/info-centre/publications/ defence-forces-review. Olibhear Ó Duibhir Leifteanant-Choirnéal Rannóg Caidreamh Poiblí Óglaigh na hÉireann 3 Defence Forces Review 2018 Editor's Notes Some sixty years ago on the 28th June 1958, barely three years after Ireland gained membership of the United Nations, the first Irish peacekeepers led by Lt. Col. Justin McCarthy took up duty on the Lebanese Syrian Border. Since then not a day has passed without an Irish soldier manning his or her post in numerous peacekeeping missions throughout the world; be it standing guard, manning an observation post, or patrolling a zone of separation somewhere within the world’s most dangerous and volatile locations. Since then Irish Defence Forces personnel have served throughout the globe in peace support missions in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and South America, completing over 66,700 tours of duty. This year, coincidentally, is the fortieth anniversary of the initial deployment of an Irish peacekeeping battalion to South Lebanon as part of the UNIFIL mandate in 1978, where Irish troops still maintain a vigil on the ‘Blue Line.’ Another significant Irish contingent is based on the Golan Heights as part of the UNDOF mission, where in Syria, an ongoing civil war involving numerous actors has led to unspeakable human suffering and tragedy. This issue of the Review published in an academic collaboration with the School of Political Science & Sociology and the Irish Centre for Human Rights, both NUI Galway; reflects both the pride and achievements of the Irish Defence Forces while at the same time inviting comprehensive critical analysis with a view to learning what lessons we can learn from the spectrum of that entire experience. This is a unique record of which the Irish Defence Forces are extremely proud. In this period the evolution and development of peacekeeping missions has gone through several epochs. When the Charter of the United Nations was signed by its founding fathers in San Francisco on the 26th June 1945, few could have envisaged how the organization would evolve and develop. Born from months of painstaking negotiations’, even as the Second World War still raged, the UN Charter called upon countries “to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind.” It was during the seminal period of our Congo deployment when John F. Kennedy addressed the Joint Houses of the Oireachtas on 28 June 1963, where he stated that “from Cork to the Congo, from Galway to the Gaza strip, from this Legislative Assembly to the United Nations, Ireland is sending its most talented men to do the world’s most important work – the work of peace.” Today, as the Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Mark Mellett DSM has noted, “the Irish Defence Forces has over 650 personnel serving overseas in 13 missions in 13 countries and on one sea.” Then and now, during the course of this service, Irish soldiers have gone about their business in an impartial, professional, neutral, dedicated and humanitarian manner in order to improve the lives of whole communities ravaged by both international conflict and internal civil wars. This has come at a price, given that over the past sixty years 87 members of the Defence Forces have paid the ultimate price in the service of peace. In the early days, Ireland’s contribution was arguably marked by enthusiasm, humanitarianism and a certain naiveté. However, over the course of these ensuing years, the wealth of experience that has been gained in a multitude of missions in diverse and challenging circumstances; where Irish troops worked closely with other nationalities and NGOs engaged in key humanitarian work, has led to a depth and breadth of experience in peacekeeping operations that few other nations can equal. To the extent that in the 21st Century we are well placed to lead peacekeeping missions as witnessed 4 Defence Forces Review 2018 by Maj. General Michael Beary DSM who has just stood down as the Force Commander of the UNIFIL mission. President Michael D. Higgins at a ceremony in June this year at Dublin Castle to commemorate this 60th anniversary of the work of the Defence Forces in conflict zones, noted that “this is a unique record and one of which the Defence Forces and the Irish people can be justifiably very proud…it has established our acceptability as peacekeepers, and peace defenders and thus has enabled us to play an effective role in the international community.” 5 Defence Forces Review 2018 Editor's Biographical Statement Ray Murphy is a professor at the Irish Centre for Human Rights, NUI Galway. He completed his BA in 1979 and Bachelor in Law (LLB) degree in 1981. He was called to the Irish bar in 1984. He completed his MLitt in International Law at Dublin University (Trinity College) in 1991. In 2001 he was awarded his PhD at the University of Nottingham. Dr. Murphy is on the faculty of the International Institute for Criminal Investigations and Justice Rapid Response. He is a Commissioner with the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and a former Vice Chair of the Executive Committee of Amnesty International (Ireland). He is currently the EU Fundamental Rights Agency Senior Expert for Ireland. He was a Visiting Scholar at the Centre for International Law, Al-Haq, Palestine in 2014. He was awarded a Fulbright Fellowship in 2006 and worked with Human Rights Watch in New York as a resident scholar. He is a former Captain in the Defence Forces and served with UNIFIL in 1981/82 and 1989. He was Chairperson of the Broadcasting Complaints Commission from 1997 to 2000. He has field experience with the OSCE in Bosnia in 1996 and 1997. He has also worked on short assignments in Africa and the Middle East for Amnesty International, the EU and the Irish Government. Brendan Flynn has been a lecturer within the School of Political Science & Sociology, NUIG, since 1998. His Masters and PhD degrees are from the University of Essex. He teaches on European Politics and Ocean and Marine Politics. His research is focused on Maritime Security, Marine Renewables and Environmental policy. Brendan was joint convener of the Panel on Maritime Security for EISA (European International Studies Association) annual conference 2017. His most recent major research project has been the EPA Funded EPIIC project which examines policy integration (2017). He is the author of "The Blame Game: Rethinking Ireland's Sustainable Development and Environmental Performance" (Dublin: Irish Academic Press, 2007) and a co-author of "Environmental Governance in Europe: An Ever Closer Ecological Union?”(Oxford: OUP, 2000). Some recent publications include: Flynn, B (2016) 'Marine wind energy and the North Sea Offshore Grid Initiative: A Multi-Level Perspective on a stalled technology transition?'. Energy Research & Social Science, 22 :36-51; Flynn, Brendan. (2016) 'The EU’s Maritime Security Strategy: a Neo-Medieval Perspective on the Limits of Soft Security?'. Croatian International Relations Review, 22 (75):9-37.and Flynn, Brendan (2015) 'Counter Piracy Today: how essential a mission for both NATO and the EU? ', Atlantic Voices, Vol.5, No.8, pp.