United Nations owes Ireland 5.6 million

DARA KELLY,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Tuesday, November 2, 2010, 7:37 AM

Updated Wednesday, November 3, 2010, 6:49 AM

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Irish peacekeeping troops in Kosovo

The United Nations owes 5.6 million euros to the Irish government for peacekeeping performed by the Irish Defense Force. But the debt has not been paid to date, even as the Irish government contemplates sending the troops back to Lebanon in 2011.

According to The Irish Department of Defence, of the more than 5 million currently due to Ireland, the bulk of it relates to the movement of heavy equipment to Chad.

But the unpaid bill has not put a stop to the plan to send 500 Irish soldiers on overseas U.N. duty next year. A spokesman for the Defence Forces confirmed to the press that a mission to Lebanon is currently being explored.

Irish military sources confirmed to the press that the outstanding bill would be refunded and that it wasn't uncommon for the U.N. to owe Ireland money.

"A total €5.6m approximately is due to Ireland, the bulk of which is due in respect of the equipment deployed by the Defence Forces to
the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (Minurcat)," a statement from the Irish Department of Defence read.

"In addition, a claim is currently being processed for submission to the U.N. in respect of the repatriation of equipment from Chad following the recent withdrawal of the Irish Battalion from Minurcat," the statement added.

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Bryman1991 | Nov 04, 2010, 05:28 AM EDT

Pittsburghkid Ireland has been sending Troops overseas since the 1960's so it had nothing to do with the Celtic tiger and by sending these troops overseas its not interfering with Ireland's neutrality because they are there as a peace keeping force .And the UN might owe Ireland money but they have paid Irish soldiers up to 20 grand each which they then spend in the economy so not only is it helping keep peace in war torn countries it also has an economical benefit . And don't worry about Irish Soldiers going to Prison because they don't open up fire on innocent women children and men

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Pittsburghkid | Nov 03, 2010, 10:27 PM EDT

Lebanon is not Irish County, neither is Chad. So why is an Irish Defense Unit off the Island of Ireland? Ireland use to be smart, and was neutral. Since Ireland became the Celtic Tiger, she's gotten stupid. Ireland you deserve to be taken for 5 Million. Now you know what the UN real thinks of you. America is still paying for WWI. We have troops all over the world. The Federal Reserve is printing money to pay for the Iraq War, and Afganistan War. Of course, Ireland gets a lot of respect for sending troops thousands of miles away. Ireland is one of the EU's PIGS. wait until the put one of you soldiers in Prison for making an error in judgement while under fire. There are American Soldiers in Prison. Keep Ireland Neutral.

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haikued2 | Nov 03, 2010, 12:16 PM EDT

Why not ask President Obama to cut his next trip abroad by one day and give the $200 million saved to Ireland. That would help.

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haikued2 | Nov 03, 2010, 12:14 PM EDT

And the UN owes the world an apology for being the most corrupt and mismanaged "world government" so far. Another great example of stupidity and political corruption in action.

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jdi2269 | Nov 03, 2010, 12:08 PM EDT

ANYONE THAT TRUSTS THE U.N. IS NUTS OR UNINFORMED!

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maloney | Nov 02, 2010, 09:03 PM EDT

The UN. Now there's a nice, honest, socialist organization. You should be getting your money any day now.

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antoman | Nov 02, 2010, 08:29 PM EDT

Good points Bryman.The army helped transport doctors and nurses to and from the Mercy hospital here in Cork.

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Bryman1991 | Nov 02, 2010, 07:13 PM EDT

Dublinjas come on now how would we have coped without our Defence Force during the floods and the big freeze last year when the Gardaí couldn't get around because their cars couldn't drive on the ice they were helped by the army and who made the sand bags and distributed them the army did. Who helped the emergency service recuse people from their homes who delivered the water to the people who had none the Army did . So i think they serve a very useful service to Ireland . And if we disbanded the Army we would have 10 000 more people on the dole. And i think Irish people should be and i think they are proud of what our small force has done in Africa and the middle east and the rest of the world .

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Dublinjas | Nov 02, 2010, 04:11 PM EDT

Tell the UN to piss off and pack up this stupid nonsense, A small Nation like Ireland has no business expending resources on UN peace keeping. Let Africa take care of African business and keep your nose out of it. It is pure Arrogance on Irelands part to think it is in any position to contribute troops to the UN. The Irish Army should be disbanded immediately it serves no useful domestic purpose and is a costly luxury for a country that has to borrow the dole money it pays out to foreigners while denying its own Irish people the very basics of life and treats them as Aliens. Tell that to the UN you FF and Harney greens Scumbags.

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antoman | Nov 02, 2010, 10:23 AM EDT

With 5.6 million we could finally buy a jet fighter or make a down payment on one.Course it would have to be kept in a glass box up in Dublin so its value would'nt depreciate.Maybe charge the public a small fee so that they could visit it.Those that arrive with bread crumbs to feed it will be directed to the Phoenix Park.

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