Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

If treaty change is required, an impact on neutrality would probably be a red line for countries like Ireland. It is interesting to hear there is much interest in our position, because I believe we have had a very flexible approach to neutrality and have stretched it as much as possible. We have been very clear that we are not neutral on the war in Ukraine. We are very much on the side of Ukrainians and their right to defend themselves as members of a sovereign nation. We have been very strong on that.

Dr. Colfer made the important point, also made by the Tánaiste, that while Ireland is not and never will be a military superpower, this not being within our capacity, it is important that we do our bit given our size. Considering that we have so many major multinationals headquartered here and the matter of the transatlantic cable, Ireland is now regarded as a weak point in terms of European defence. That is a problem for Europe and therefore a problem for us. The debate is moving. We have come a long way from the debate on the Lisbon treaty and the scaremongering that happened in that regard. If there is a new referendum, we will at least be able to point to the fact that what was referred to previously never came to pass. We will be able to say that what was said would happen did not happen. This will help us in future debates. It is going to be an interesting topic for us.