Madam, - I wish to clarify a reference in an article in your edition of March 25th by Dr Ray Murphy, when he wrote: "Recently, after intensive lobbying by Ireland, Defence Forces personnel were allocated a number of positions on the EU led preventive deployment mission in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia."
All EU member-states are entitled as of right to participate in an EU mission if they so wish. Dr Murphy's suggestion that intensive lobbying is a requirement is incorrect and shows a lack of understanding of how the ESDP works.
It so happens that in this case the necessary underpinning of an appropriate UN resolution, which is a requirement of our legislation for the participation of members of the Defence Forces in such missions, was not available. It is also worth noting that this EU mission to Macedonia is small-scale and has been oversubscribed.
It remains the position that the question of responding to a request for the Defence Forces to participate in overseas missions is a matter for the Government in each case, subject to the provisions of the Defence Acts. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN NOLAN, Press Officer, Department of Defence, Infirmary Road, Dublin 7.