Irish Soldiers on UN peacekeeping duties in Lebanon are among the “lowest paid public servants in the State,” according to an independent Senator.

On Moncrieff today, Tom Clonan said Irish troops should be more fairly compensated for their services as the “credibility” of Ireland’s foreign policy “rests on their shoulders”.

It comes as Tánaiste Micheál Martin visited Camp Shamrock in Lebanon today where the 124th Infantry Battalion is deployed on a UN peacekeeping mission.

Senator Clonan said Irish troops are “caught in the middle” of fighting there between two heavily armed opponents.

“On one hand they have Hezbollah, one of the most fanatical Islamic resistance groups in the world, and the other hand, the Israeli Defence Forces who are one of the most notorious killing machines on the planet,” he said.

“Over the years, many Irish peacekeepers have been killed in Lebanon.

“About 50% have been victims to the Israelis and their proxy forces and the other 50% victim to Hezbollah and other Islamic resistance groups.

“It shows you’re in the middle, caught in the middle between both sides.”

'Human shields' in Lebanon

Senator Clonan, a retired Irish Army Captain, said he had a “very violent” deployment to Lebanon in 1996 and 1995.

“We were peacekeepers as Irish troops, basically human shields, caught between two opposing forces exchanging fire daily, nightly, seven days a week, for about two months in 1996,” he said.

“There was shelling, helicopter gunship attacks, air strikes, and direct fire weapon systems - they threw everything at each other and at us.

“We were stuck there under that barrage.”

The United Nations and the Ireland flags fly at half-staff, at the UNIFIL headquarters in the southern Lebanese town of Naqoura, Lebanon, 12-16-2022. Image: AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari

The independent Senator said Irish troops save thousands of lives abroad.

“We couldn’t stop the killing but we saved thousands of lives by just being there,” he said.

“It inhibited the Israelis to some extent in a way they’re not being inhibited in Rafah where there aren’t any forces on the ground to contain or stop killing.”

'They need a decent living wage'

Senator Clonan called for increased pay for Irish troops on peacekeeping missions.

“They do an extraordinary amount of work and it’s important to remember that these men and women are the lowest-paid public servants in the State,” he said.

“They absolutely need to have a decent living wage and the investment and equipment they need to do the work.

“Our foreign policy position and credibility in part rests on the shoulders of those men and women and veterans who have served overseas representing the Irish flag.”

Some 88 members of the Defences Forces have died on overseas missions to date – with 47 of those deaths occurring in Lebanon.

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Main image: Tanaiste Michael Martin inspecting troops at Camp Shamrock in Lebanon yesterday. Image: PA Images / Alamy Stock Photo