A senior official at the UN has criticised the Irish Government’s decision to withdraw peacekeeping troops from Chad.
He said that the Government's announcement came at a very sensitive time while negotiations with the Chadian authorities were continuing to keep peacekeepers in Chad to protect refugees.
Ha added that the signal from the Irish Government played into the hands of those who wanted UN peacekeeping troops out of Chad and weakened the hand of those trying to keep them there.
He also said that while the UN respected the sovereign decisions of governments, ‘the timing of the Irish Governments decision was not ideal’.
Last month, the Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations of the UN, Alain Le Roy, said that the UN wanted to keep peacekeepers in Chad fearing for the safety of refugees.
Another UN chief added that they feared what would happen if the force was withdrawn.
Chad President Idriss Deby has said that UN troops are no longer needed as the situation has stabilised.
Minister for Defence Tony Killeen announced yesterday that the Government had taken the decision to withdraw Irish peacekeepers from Chad due to the uncertainty of a continuation of the UN mandate and the approach of the rainy season, which would make withdrawal later more difficult.
Today the Department said that the withdrawal process would begin in the next week.
On the issue of a new UN Mandate the Department said: ‘It is understood that discussions between the UN and the Chadian authorities on the mission's mandate beyond 15 May 2010 will continue for some time and will not be finalised until early May.
‘This would be too late to reverse the process of withdrawal of the Irish contingent.
‘However, should there be any change in the immediate future the matter could be reviewed at that juncture.’
The representative body PDFORRA said today that they are deeply disappointed with the Government decision to withdraw Irish peacekeepers from Chad.
The deputy general of the Organisation Simon Devereux said that they are seeking a meeting with the Minister tomorrow to discuss the decision.
He will be asking if the situation for refugees in Chad has improved sufficiently to merit a withdrawal.
He added that in his opinion the decision was based on a cost-saving measure by the Government rather than the lack of an extension of a UN Mandate.
He said the decision will have a serious impact on pay and career promotion opportunities for its members.
The organisation will be seeking a commitment from the Minister tomorrow that if the UN Mandate for Chad is extended that the Irish troops should stay in Chad.
