Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I particularly appreciate the Minister's acknowledgement of our Defence Forces members who will be serving overseas at Christmas away from their families. We are immensely proud of the contribution our Defence Forces have made in UN peacekeeping operations over the years. The fit of the Finnish defence forces with our own is particularly welcome. Finland has the same policy of neutrality as Ireland, as the Chairman mentioned during a recent visit by this committee to Finland. That fit is a good model for Ireland to proceed with.

The Minister knows that Sinn Féin has concerns. Although this meeting concerns the UN, I wish to raise the issue of the EU battlegroups and the sense that our proud policy of neutrality, which puts us in a position to be peacekeepers under the UN banner and play a role in conflict resolution as a neutral state that was colonised, has endured hardships and can understand the experiences of peoples we might be trying to assist, could be undermined by our being seen to be more closely allied with NATO. Obviously, the use of Shannon Airport from 2003 was also very disappointing. We have had this discussion before. I understand that for practical purposes the Minister is not going to walk into a meeting as Minister for justice, equality and defence but rather as Minister for Defence. He has to reiterate that and have it branded on his head in every discussion he has. Our armed forces are something of which Irish people are proud and put us in a position of strength to play a constructive role. What the Minister outlined today in this report is something of which the Irish people are rightfully proud. These operations and partnerships with countries that share our values give us more moral weight to play a stronger role in human rights defence and conflict resolution. I hope we do not drift into any kind of increased relationship with NATO, which we know has been responsible for operations that were not endorsed by the UN and which caused great devastation. I am, of course, referring to the war in Iraq. Overall, it is a positive report of which we are all very proud, but I have those concerns.