Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea has strongly criticised the Green Party over claims that lives would be put at risk if the Government proceeded with planned legislation next week to allow for Irish military participation in the proposed EU humanitarian missions known as "battlegroups".
The Minister yesterday said the comments were "outrageous" and that the Green Party stood alone in Europe - even diverging from other Green parties - in opposing the plans.
Green Party Defence spokesman John Gormley accused Mr O'Dea of behaving like a "sleeveen" for bringing the legislation into the Dáil in the last week of the session, when there would not be time for a full debate on its provisions.
Under the terms of the Bill, the triple lock that requires the approval of the Government, the Oireachtas and the UN for the deployment of Irish troops on missions abroad will be modified. The Army will be permitted to engage in training exercises and to assemble for missions abroad in advance of UN approval.
At a press conference in Dublin yesterday, Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said the Government "was trying, with as little noise as possible, to pass legislation that will have a profound effect on our military services, because they realise what a serious and controversial issue it is".
He continued: "It is unacceptable and undemocratic to radically change our peaceful and neutral position in such a manner and the Green Party will oppose this Defence Bill at every stage of its passage through the Dáil. Ireland is a small country with a small military and an immense, highly respected and proud reputation as UN peacekeepers."
However, speaking later at the launch of the Defence Forces Annual Report for 2005, the Minister dismissed the Green Party press conference as a publicity stunt. "I think today is a step too far. I think the suggestion lives are being deliberately put at risk by the Government is quite frankly outrageous, an outrageous claim," he said.
Mr O'Dea said he had studied the three areas of concern about the Bill set out by the Green Party but did not find substance to them. He said it was likely that Ireland would seek to join the Nordic battlegroup and that the Irish contribution could range from a small number of specialists to up to 200 troops.
The chief of staff of the Defence Forces, Lt Gen Jim Sreenan, said that during the past year more than 2,200 personnel had been deployed overseas.