CELTIC LEAGUE: BRITISH ARMY RECRUITMENT - IRISH GOVERNMENT QUESTIONED

The Celtic League has posed a series of questions to the Irish government about the recruitment of Irish Nationals into the armed forces of other countries. The move comes following news that 1 in 10 recruited into the British Army come from the Republic of Ireland, at a time when domestic recruitment in the United Kingdom is in terminal decline.

The League point out that some states have a statutory bar on the recruitment of their Nationals into the armed forces of foreign states and, bizarrely, even the United Kingdom has on statute such legislation - albeit it is apparently moribund.

«Minister Micheál Martin TD Minister for Foreign Affairs, Department of Foreign Affairs, 80 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2

Dear Minister,

Figures relating to British Army recruitment indicate that 1 in 10 of current recruits is a National of the Republic of Ireland.

Would you accept that the enlistment of Irish Nationals into foreign armed forces might be counterproductive to the good work and hard-earned reputation of Irish National Armed Forces, many of whose number have paid the ultimate price, in overseas peacekeeping and humanitarian missions?

Has the Irish government considered introducing legislation, such as that introduced recently by the South African government, which proscribes enlistment into foreign armed forces i.e. »The Prohibition of Mercenary Activities and Regulation of Certain Activities in Country of Armed Conflict Act, 2006«?

Is Ireland a signatory to the 'International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries'?

Is the Irish government aware that the United Kingdom, which actively recruits Nationals from Ireland and other States, has on its statutes legislation (albeit moribund) -The Foreign Enlistment Act - which proscribes enlistment by British citizens in the armed forces of other States?

Yours faithfully,

J B Moffatt»

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J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

13/06/08