Taoiseach wants 'clarification' on Trump 'Board of Peace' as Harris says there are 'red flags'

THE TAOISEACH AND Tánaiste struck different notes in their appraisals of Donald Trump’s so-called ‘Board of Peace’ today, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin appearing to hold back his remarks somewhat.

Martin’s approach came in contrast to that of Tánaiste Simon Harris, who said earlier today that there are serious “red flags” in relation to the organisation. 

The Fine Gael leader said he personally can’t envisage Ireland participating in the organisation, which was first mentioned as part of Trump’s 20-point peace plan for a ceasefire in Gaza last September.

The Taoiseach, by comparison, stopped short of ruling out involvement. 

Trump’s 20-point plan for the Gaza ceasefire said the board would “set the framework and handle the funding for the redevelopment of Gaza” until the Palestinian Authority had reformed.

However, its charter does not limit its role to Gaza and has since morphed into resolving all sorts of international conflicts, sparking concerns that the US president wants to create a rival to the UN.

Trump has invited around 50 world leaders to join the board, including allies and adversaries – Russian President Vladimir Putin among them.

According to the White House, around 35 leaders have taken up the offer so far.

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These include EU members Hungary and Bulgaria.

Speaking on his way into the emergency summit of EU leaders tonight in Brussels, Taoiseach Micheál Martin was careful in his comments around the Board of Peace.

He said Ireland has “concerns” in relation to its remit and stressed that no organisation can replace or have “any sort of overlapping remit with the UN”.

He said Ireland will be seeking “further clarification” in relation to this and said that the Government is “anxious” to contribute to peace and conflict resolution in Gaza and the Middle East.

Asked specifically about Hungary’s decision to join the board and whether he would like to see the EU agree a collective position in relation to the organisation, the Taoiseach said that it is something that will be discussed at tonight’s meeting, but that he does expect to see a collective response emerge.

However, without naming Hungary or Bulgaria, he said certain member states will have their own positions.

Signing ceremony 

Trump was joined on stage today at the World Economic Forum in Davos by leaders and officials from 19 countries to sign the Board of Peace’s founding charter in the Swiss ski resort.

Reacting to the ceremony, Tánaiste Simon Harris said: 

“Let me also be very clear, what we’re seeing today at this signing ceremony could not be further removed from that original conversation [around the Gaza peace plan].”

He said anything Russian President Vladimir Putin is considering joining, which relates to peace, “doesn’t sit well”.

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The cost to join the new board as a permanent member is €1 billion, another aspect of it that Harris said does not bode well with him. 

Harris said that Europe needs to support the primacy of the United Nations and get the focus back on phase two of the peace place for Gaza.

When pushed for a definitive answer whether Ireland would consider taking up a place on Trump’s peace board, Harris said process does matter and the Irish government is taking the opportunity to sit down with its European colleagues today in Brussels to discuss and tease through a European response to global issues, including the Peace Board plan.

Earlier this week, Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee confirmed Ireland had been invited to join the board, but said: “We will need to give this careful consideration.”

She also raised concerns about the board’s mandate and highlighted the unique mandate held by the United Nations to maintain international peace and security.

Speaking to RTÉ News at the WEF in Davos today, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that the government is currently “examining” the invitation to the board.

“There are issues that we will examine in respect of it,” Martin told RTÉ.

“Our principal focus at the moment is to try and contribute to the peace process in the Middle East, given our own experience in conflict resolution, and we believe that the level of humanitarian aid is not going in to the degree that it should, that would be a strong point that we will be making,” he added.

Jane Matthews reports from Brussels 

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