Ireland’s leaders have also said it is too soon to talk about sending Irish peacekeepers to Ukraine, and Ireland’s deputy premier Simon Harris said: “I don’t think we can buy into the premise that there’s a peace process under way.”.
However Mr Harris, Ireland’s foreign affairs and defence minister, is to present proposals to Cabinet to change Ireland’s “triple lock” system for deploying soldiers on peacekeeping, crisis management and evacuation missions.
The Defence Bill will set out a proposal to remove a veto held by the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the US, Russia, China, France and the UK – over the deployment of Irish peacekeepers abroad, in the event where it has been approved by the Irish Government and the Irish Parliament’s lower house.
Mr Harris said: “By making the changes proposed, we would be removing the veto power of Security Council members over Ireland’s international engagement, while safeguarding the essential link with international law and good governance.
Ahead of the meeting, Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he would reiterate to Mr Zelensky Ireland’s “continued steadfast support” for Ukraine.
