THE fragile ceasefire continues to hold in southern Lebanon. What has become clear however is that without a strong UN military presence quickly on the ground the ceasefire won't last.

Meetings at UN headquarters in New York last week focused on creating the framework and rules of engagement for a multinational force, to work with Lebanese troops in southern Lebanon. The UN has now set a target of a 3,500-strong advanced force, to be on the ground within 10 days.

Unfortunately, to date the commitment of troops by EU countries has been slow.

The question for Ireland is should we be part of it? My view is a very definite yes. This is an opportunity for Ireland to play a small but valuable part in one of the most significant UN peace missions for years.

There are many potential problems for such a force.

Open warfare could break out at any time again and the UN could be caught in the middle. It is also a concern that the current mandate for UN troops in Lebanon is one of a "peace-keeping" role. Certainly the case needs to be made to upgrade that mandate to one of "peace enforcement", allowing troops to disarm people if appropriate.

There are a number of nations which clearly can't send troops, as they lack credibility and the respect of both sides. Certainly Nato can't undertake the mission either.

Irish troops have a proud history of professionalism, neutrality and experience in the region. We have already heard the Lebanese president say that Irish troops would be welcome.

When considering committing Irish troops again to Lebanon, we should not forget the sacrifice of Irish peace keepers who lost their lives in the past. The job this time will be no less dangerous. That being said, it is rare for a UN mission of this magnitude to arise, where Irish troops are so clearly suited to playing a valuable part. We have experienced soldiers who know the region well and know what to expect.

The UN is appealing to countries to contribute soldiers and resources. It was hoped that France might lead the mission, as they played such an influential role in constructing the UN resolution.

However, the UN has been disappointed to date by the current French offer of only 200 troops. Ireland has made no commitment to date, as our government says that the "rules of engagement" are still somewhat unclear in relation to the difficult question of whether Hezbollah fighters need to be disarmed.

The Dail needs to reconvene to provide the necessary mandate before sending troops abroad. This should happen this week to allow government to respond positively and without delay to the UN call for assistance.

FUEL prices in Ireland have reached an all-time high. Petrol at the pump is now over /1.20/litre.

The cost of all fossil fuels is increasing at an unsustainable rate for business and the public.

The government acts as if helpless, claiming oil prices are determined by global factors outside of its control. This is not entirely true; there are measures that can be taken to provide alternatives to fossil fuels and to reduce the rate of price increases by altering excise tax policy.

The truth is that every time the price of petrol goes up, so too does the government 'tax take' on petrol. Excise duty on petrol and other fuels is determined as a percentage of the price of the product. So as the price goes up, the tax, as a fixed percentage of that price, in real terms also increases. In other words the public is being hit twice, first by increasing oil prices but secondly by the corresponding increase in excise duty that is paid.

We need to rethink excise tax policy on fuel, to allow a stable revenue stream, but with a flexibility that can respond to dramatic price changes. Put simply, excise tax as a percentage of fuel price should be adjustable, up and down, depending on international prices. This could help reduce the impact of price increases for the public.

What's the rush? Take a year out between the Leaving and college

LAST week the Leaving Certificate results came out with all the media coverage that now follows. Endless debate and discussion on results, points and college places filled the airwaves.

The one subject I heard no discussion about is the concept of students taking a year out between leaving school and starting a thirdlevel course.

There is a strong case to be made for encouraging young people to defer entering college for 12 months. It might not suit everyone, but the time can be used to get involved in the voluntary sector, to travel and work abroad, to work in a charity or other areas that may not be possible later in life.

The benefits of using a year to broaden horizons and mature a little more before entering college or university is undervalued in Ireland.

There seems to be an over-emphasis with moving as quickly as possible from school through college and into a career in the workplace, to maximise earning capacity in as short a space of time as possible.

There are so many other opportunities out there for young people that shouldn't be dismissed in the rush to get a career.

In fact, I would make the case that a year out will benefit young people later in college and in developing a successful career.

Simon Coveney is a Fine Gael MEP and TD for Cork South Central.