The Taoiseach says he has been assured by Lebanon’s prime minister that the rotation of Irish peacekeepers will be done safely and “with absolute priority”.
Simon Harris described his meeting with Najib Mikati at Government Buildings as “very sobering”, and reiterated his calls for a ceasefire in the region.
The planned rotation of hundreds of Irish troops is due to take place next month.
It comes after the UN Interim Force in Lebanon said its peacekeepers withdrew from a watchtower in one of its posts in south Lebanon earlier this month after Israeli forces fired at it.
Peacekeepers continue to monitor and report to the Security Council on the situation in south Lebanon, despite the dramatic escalation and violence on the ground in recent weeks. pic.twitter.com/kwoJYMQBRd
Advertisement— UNIFIL (@UNIFIL_) October 25, 2024
“I did raise with the prime minister of Lebanon the importance, when those rotations take place, of there being absolutely no delays in relation to diplomatic clearance or planes or anything else that is required to safely rotate troops.
“I was assured by the prime minister of Lebanon, this will receive absolute priority, the rotation and the safety of the uniform troops.
“What I would say more broadly is this, I mean, peacekeeping, and peacekeepers, are protected by international law. They’re protected very clearly and distinctly in relation to that and Israel needs to respect that.
“It is an absolute cornerstone of the United Nations, this purpose of peacekeeping, and Ireland has played such a major role for such a long period of time in relation to peacekeeping and in any conflict.”
Speaking at Government Buildings after his meeting, Mr Harris said the safety of Irish troops is monitored on an hourly basis.
He said decisions are based on military and security advice from the Chief of Staff to the Defence Forces, Sean Clancy, and from UN commanders on the ground in Lebanon.
The Fine Gael leader said he made it clear to Mr Mikati that Ireland is willing to make further financial pledges to support Lebanon while it faces attacks from Israeli military.
“The most important thing, though, that we all need to do, through the UN, through the European Union, is make the case for de-escalation, for ceasefire, because that’s what is required,” he added.
“As the prime minister said to me today, and he’s so correct… ultimately, the way forward here is the full implementation of UN resolution 1701, that will happen at some point.
“Why go through all the bloodshed, the conflict, the death, the destruction, and then implement it? Why not actually focus on that now?
“What I was very assured from my conversation with the prime minister was that the Lebanese army and the Lebanese government are certainly preparing for their response to the implementation of that so that they can credibly show the world the positive role they can play once Israel stops the violence.
“But the cessation of violence is absolutely key in terms of next steps.”
Mr Harris also raised the death of Private Sean Rooney, saying legal delays are “unacceptable”.
The 24-year-old, from Newtowncunningham, Co Donegal, was killed when his UN peacekeeping convoy was attacked in southern Lebanon in 2022.
The shooting near the town of Al-Aqbiya, a stronghold of Hezbollah, also badly wounded Trooper Shane Kearney, 22.
Mr Harris told the Lebanese prime minister of “the importance” of separating the legal process from the political system.
“I still did express my deep dissatisfaction with the unacceptable delays in the legal proceedings there, and made it clear to the prime minister, there can’t be further delays,” he added.
“It’s not fair for the Rooney family and it’s not right when a family has been met with such devastation and also when Irish peacekeepers have served with such distinction for such a long period of time.”
