The Irish Government has signalled it will not join Donald Trump's proposed 'Board of Peace,' citing concerns over its governance structure and the inclusion of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Deputy Premier Simon Harris told the Irish Parliament he could not see 'any scenario' in which Ireland would take a place on the board in its current guise, labelling the involvement of Putin as a 'complete oxymoron'.
Foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee confirmed that the government had sought clarification on whether the board's remit would focus solely on Gaza, as originally approved by the UN in November, and on the one billion dollar 'price tag' for membership. She stated that the board appeared to have evolved into a wider organisation that could 'mimic or undermine' the UN Security Council.
Premier Micheal Martin expressed Ireland's desire to contribute to conflict resolution in Gaza, but Harris stressed that the government was united on the 'very significant red flags' raised by the board's structure. Under its charter, the US president would have the power to appoint a successor and remove members, raising concerns about free expression within the group.
Harris also questioned the financial commitment, saying 'you're paying a billion dollars? We won't be doing that.' He added that the board's governance was 'very peculiar,' with a structure that could potentially oust members who voiced dissenting views. McEntee echoed these sentiments, noting that while clarification was still being sought, Ireland would not join a body that tried to compete with the United Nations.
