Ireland to become embroiled in the EU super-army

national | anti-war / imperialism | other press

Wednesday July 05, 2006 19:57

by Phuq Hedd

Legislation railroaded through Dail. Labour abstain.

Legislation that would allow Ireland's DEFENCE forces to take part in "EU battlegroups" has been railroaded through the Dail according to an article in the Irish Independent, May 5th 2006 by Geraldine Collins and Michael Brennan. (As there's a login requirement at the Indo I repost the full story below this summary):

(c) Irish Independent

Irish Army can now join EU rapid force

LEGISLATION to allow the Irish Army to take part in EU battlegroups was rushed through the Dail last night.

The stated purpose of the 13 EU battlegroups, which will contain 1,500 soldiers each, is to provide a rapid reaction force which can intervene to protect civilians in urgent conflict situations.

The Defence Amendment Bill will allow Irish troops to be sent on overseas duties under the authority of the Government and the Minister for Defence.

For the first time, under the legislation, the Government would have authority to despatch members of the Defence Forces to undertake humanitarian tasks in response to a disaster or emergency.

Fine Gael supported the bill while Labour abstained. The Greens and Sinn Fein voted against.

Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said the bill could allow the Irish army to become embroiled in illegal wars like Iraq, which was not authorised by the UN.

"That chills me, and I think the Government needs to go back to the drawing board," he said.

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Comments (5 of 5)

why did labour not vote against?

by tom eile

Fri Jul 07, 2006 18:00

Would somebody from the Labour Party please explain why their TDs abstained on this vote .

I suppose they voted that way coz they're wankers.

by anti-labour & anti-pope

Fri Jul 07, 2006 20:11

I really like that word "embroil" by the way. Of the many culinary techniques and expressions which have lent themselves to political imagery, broiling is the only one to carry a suffix, and possibly the only one to not be used so much at the stove or microwave oven in these modern times. Oh yes indeed Ruarí o Bradaigh was still in the Sinn Fein party when I last ate a broiled piece of meat. & happy I was to eat it as well, that was during the oil crises. Of course kids today wouldn't know what you're talking about when it comes to broiling, but they're not completely ignorant yet - there's still a vague flicker of recognition to the embroiling.
I recommend basing chicken soup on broiled wings and left-overs which a friendly butcher will happily provide you if yo haggle in the old-fashioned way. & you'll never go wrong with chicken soup or broth as our northern opressed brothers and sisters call it. Oh yes. Oh yes. Oh yes, feed the cold and starve the flu.

Labour are still wankers.
& if you need any proof look at that man on Kildare street.
Does he have any chicken soup?
Has he enjoyed any broiled or embroiled sustenance in 46 days?

Super!

by The Cat

Sat Jul 08, 2006 16:25

I don't often agree with the Irish government in power for a decade now, but this is excellent.

BTW, WTF is SF doing in the Dail during a National Security vote? Those parasites killed an Irish Army soldier in the 80s, not to mention targetting Det. Sgt. McCabe.

Battle Groups

by Seán Ryan

Sat Jul 08, 2006 17:14

"And seeking to promote the common good, with
due observance of Prudence, Justice and Charity,
so that the dignity and freedom of the individual
may be assured, true social order attained, the
unity of our country restored, and concord
established with other nations,"

The above is taken from the preamble of our Constitution - the template of our Constitution.

Will this EU army promote the common good by due observance of prudence, justice and charity?

Is it being formed in order to ensure that the dignity and freedom of the individual may be assured?

Will it help ensure concord is established with other nations?

Labour sat on the fence because they are irrelevant, and they know it.

BTW Cat, SF can attend because they are elected. I don't particularly like em, but I recognise this fact.

I agree with the poster above on his/her comment about Peter Preston.

Maybe we could encourage this EU battle group to invade Leinster House to ensure Peter Preston some dignity, via prudence, justice and charity.

cowardly neutrality policy

by martin

Sun Jul 09, 2006 03:04

Thank god ireland is doing something constructive for once and letting its army participate in the battlegroups.For to long this country has held a cowardly neutrality policy and relied on our neighbours britain to protect us from facism and communism over the decades.Its now time we started doing our bit for the global security and stop staying on the sidelines of world issues trying to take the morale high ground when really we were taking the easy option.

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Ireland to become embroiled in the EU super-army

Comments (5 of 5)