Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach. I thank him for the opportunity to speak on this very important topic, a topic about which I have been raising concerns for a while now. The establishment of a consultative forum on international security is, in my opinion, extremely duplicitous. I have been questioning the purpose of this forum since its announcement and have been calling on the Government to be open and transparent about its reasons for establishing such a forum.

The Tánaiste’s opening statement has given us a bit more of an insight into the real reasons for its establishment and although I am not surprised, I have grave concerns. After reassurances from the Tánaiste that the forum’s intention would not be to encourage a change in Ireland’s military neutrality policy, it is now clear that that is exactly what this Government is trying to do.

This Government is chipping away at our neutrality bit by bit and should it say any different, I would like to refer the Tánaiste to his own party’s 2020 manifesto which states:

Fianna Fáil is dedicated to Ireland’s policy of military neutrality ... Fianna Fáil reaffirms its commitment to the retention of the Triple Lock of UN mandate or authorisation, Government and Dáil approval.

It is amazing to watch the Tánaiste make such an incredible U-turn over the past three years. Not only is he chipping away at neutrality, but at Fianna Fáil policies and election promises.

In the Tánaiste’s speech, he criticised both neutrality and the triple lock, questioning whether it is fit for purpose. I know the Minister, Deputy Ryan, is due to wrap-up this debate and I am sure he will give us a great display of his party’s incredible U-turn as well. I would like to take this opportunity to remind him of his 2020 manifesto which emphasises the importance of protecting Irish neutrality. Not only will he be failing to protect Irish neutrality but he is actively eroding it with the road he is going down and it will be on his watch that that will happen.

I was absolutely horrified by the Tánaiste’s opening statement. Some of it was just pure scaremongering. I mean the idea that we should abandon our neutrality in order to protect our fibre optic cables is just ridiculous. The Tánaiste said that it is important "that the conversations are based on fact, not fiction". I would like to put that right back to him. Suggesting that there is a connection between the HSE cyberattack and Ireland’s neutrality is just absurd. It is clearly a scare tactic and is beneath him.

The Tánaiste suggested that we are withdrawing from international relations and becoming an insular country, but this is far from the truth. Why would the fact that we value neutrality mean we were withdrawing from international relations? It would, in fact, increase our credibility in international relations. If we were proactive, we could contribute immensely to peace talks and ceasefires across the world. If not, we will just become a minor cog in the EU war machine and will have no input on the international stage in respect of neutrality, or anything else.

The public is very proud of Irish peacekeeping activities and has no interest whatsoever in abandoning neutrality. The Government parties had no interest whatsoever in abandoning neutrality three years ago, so we have to ask, why are they so insistent on it now? The answer clearly lies with the European Union or, even more cynically, in the foreign direct investment, in the creation of jobs where the only growth industry left for now is in the military-industrial complex that we are not part of because of our neutral stance.

We cannot allow Europe to bully us into compromising our neutrality and Irish people need to remain vigilant against any moves to undermine Irish military neutrality. We will give away far more than we will gain if we continue on this road and do it in the unthinking and cavalier way that the Government is proceeding, by supporting everything that is happening in Europe, not questioning anything, and not allowing debate to take place here in the Chamber. We do not want to continue on the road that Europe is proceeding along in respect of trying to become some sort of world power. We should be using our role within the EU to raise the issues and concerns about Ukraine, Palestine, and issues like migration, with a strong voice instead of kowtowing, as we are, to Europe on the issues of neutrality.

Irish neutrality was manipulated during the Lisbon treaty process and we cannot allow it to be manipulated any further under the guise of maintaining peace in Ukraine. If we are maintaining peace there, then why are we constantly sending over ammunition and constantly crowing about it?

The Tánaiste gave a very weak reason as to why this conversation is being held through a public forum, rather than a citizens’ assembly, which I have been calling for. The idea that we cannot have a citizens' assembly because two have already been established this year is absolute rubbish. Even if this was a concern, then why the rush to have one? Again, pressure from Europe is probably the clear answer here. The reality is that the Government is afraid of the answer it would get from the people if it allowed the proposal for a citizens’ assembly or a referendum to be debated by them, because the public would back neutrality very strongly and forcefully. They have time and again, and they will continue to into the future.

I also want to raise my concerns about the chair of the forum, Louise Richardson, who has in the past made questionable justifications for US involvement in Chile and Cuba, as well as questionable justifications for involvement in Iraq. Is this really someone we can trust to chair a forum that will debate our long-standing policy on neutrality?

The Tánaiste mentioned in his speech today that Russia has vetoed the Security Council many times, which it has. There is no doubt about that. What the Tánaiste forgot to mention was that since 1975 the US has used the UN veto more than 110 times. There was no mention of that and we have nothing to say about that at all. If one looks back over the record, since 1975 Russia and China have probably vetoed the UN Security Council about 20 times and America is way out and beyond anybody else. America, of course, are the good guys, the ones we support, so that is okay.

The Government is underestimating the importance of our neutrality to the Irish people and Irish citizens will not appreciate being blindsided by the Government in this way. We will not allow it to erode our neutrality.

I am concerned about the vagueness of the Tánaiste when discussing the outcome of this forum and the recommendations it will make and so, in his closing statement, I would ask the Minister to answer the following question. Will he ensure that the forum’s recommendations are published publicly and that we will be able to discuss the recommendations in this Chamber? This is an issue of national importance and I urge the Minister to ensure the public has a say on it. I am urging him now to do what is right. That is vitally important. The public should have a say rather than just having this railroaded through this House which seems to be what has been set up to be done. It will be interesting to see if the Members on the Minister’s side of the House, who spoke very eloquently in support neutrality, support what he is doing when it comes down to business.

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