Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh that if there is a concern among the general public that our neutrality is somehow at risk, we should absolutely take it on board. It is incumbent on us as Deputies to ensure, in respect of the protections we have all outlined that assure our neutrality, we will decide for ourselves our policy and what we will or will not participate in. We must ensure information is provided for the public and that we tell them why we are doing what we are and set out the benefits for our soldiers. This refers not only to the cost benefits but also to the benefits of the knowledge and training our soldiers will receive, all of which are intended to keep them safe. We should put this information before the public to a greater extent. We may at times have failed to inform it properly of the operations in which the Defence Forces participate and why. We must reassure it that this remain at all times a neutral state and that we have no intention of ever changing this.

My comment on the suspicion of some Deputies of participation in defence operations was not directed at any one individual, rather it was a general comment to the committee.

In recent months when we had to discuss participation in the UK battle group there was huge resistance in the House to that participation. I could not understand why because in my view it would have been an opportunity for some of our troops to gain extra experience and knowledge and to educate themselves further, which would be a good thing. A further conversation about how we might embark on a public relations exercise, for want of a better phrase, on behalf of the Defence Forces about participation in this type of project with other European member states and how we might better inform the public of what is going on, would be very beneficial to the Defence Forces.