ANALYSIS:The dedication and courage of Ireland's peacekeepers has greatly enhanced our international standing, writes Deaglán De Breadún.
GIVEN THE criticism our political and State institutions have to contend with on the domestic front, it can sometimes be forgotten that on the international stage, Ireland generally comes in for more bouquets than brickbats. Thus, whatever slings and arrows might be flying through the air over current economic policy, there are many countries which look upon our achievements with envy and eagerly seek to apply the Celtic Tiger formula to themselves.
Likewise, after the Lisbon referendum, we may not feel like model Europeans, but there are many other small countries who see Ireland as a good example of how to use a multilateral economic and trading relationship to promote domestic prosperity. Another area where Ireland's performance is generally seen as exemplary down through the years is at the United Nations, both in the spheres of diplomacy and military or peacekeeping activities.
Speaking to the present writer in his office at UN headquarters prior to visiting Ireland a few years ago, then secretary general Kofi Annan spoke in glowing terms of how, "for a relatively small country, Ireland has been very active in this organisation". He described Ireland as one of "our model members". During his trip here in October 2004, he made a point of visiting McKee Barracks in Dublin to meet some of our UN peacekeepers.
The chief dignitary at the same venue yesterday was Taoiseach Brian Cowen who, accompanied by Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea and Lord Mayor of Dublin councillor Paddy Burke, had come to pay tribute to the Defence Forces on the 50th anniversary of their involvement in UN peacekeeping.
Peacekeepers past and present were in attendance and it was a touching sight to observe scores of veterans, some of them quite advanced in years, standing to attention for well over an hour in heavy rainfall. Many relatives of deceased veterans also attended and, in a moving ceremonial, a special An Post commemorative stamp was unveiled, depicting Irish officers smiling and waving farewell as they headed off to Lebanon on our very first UN mission just half a century ago.
For a small country with limited resources, Ireland has indeed contributed significantly to the maintenance of peace and stability around the world. Since our first UN venture in 1958, a total of 85 soldiers and one garda have made the supreme sacrifice. No fewer that 47 Irish soldiers died while serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil).
As the Taoiseach pointed out in his speech at McKee Barracks, the initial foray into Lebanon was succeeded by a more substantial commitment to peacekeeping duties in the Congo. A total of 26 Irish soldiers lost their lives on that particular mission, including nine who were killed in the notorious ambush at Niemba on November 8th, 1960.
Although, in the Taoiseach's own phrase, this was "a sharp wake-up call" which brought home to everyone the cost of peacekeeping, nevertheless, successive governments continued to ensure that Ireland sustained its contribution.
There were benefits as well as costs, however. The Army has learned a lot from its sojourns overseas at the level of skills, training and how to cope with tense and difficult situations on the ground. At present, over 800 Defence Forces personnel are serving in 12 different missions around the world. This includes a contingent of over 400 in the EU-led and UN-mandated operation in Chad and the Central African Republic. The mission to Chad is fraught with danger as our troops supply protection to over 400,000 refugees - many of them fleeing the Darfur crisis.
Irish officers have held some of the top positions with the UN over the past half-century, including most recently the appointment of Lieut Gen Pat Nash as EU operation commander of the Chad mission; Brig Gen Gerry Hegarty heads the multinational taskforce in Kosovo.
By coincidence, yesterday was also the 45th anniversary of the late US president John F Kennedy's arrival on his historic visit to Ireland. Two days later he said in an address to the Dáil: "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." It was appropriate that the Taoiseach should recall those words yesterday when he reiterated Ireland's commitment to peacekeeping for the future.
The current edition of An Cosantóir, the Defence Forces magazine, is devoted to this topic and features a special tribute from President Mary McAleese which sums up the feelings of many citizens towards our peacekeepers, both men and women: "Your courage, dedication and professionalism add immeasurably to Ireland's store."
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Deaglán De Bréadún is a political correspondent of The Irish Times