Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am concerned when I read some of the Commission’s documents. The need for the European Union to kowtow to NATO appears in every document. I have never seen the phrase, "with respect to Ireland’s neutrality" stated. Even though we are part of a document, that is not stated anywhere in the document I have been quoting from. There is no footnote to say Ireland is a neutral country or has the opt-out. Our officials should ensure ad nauseamthat it is reflected in those documents because then there will be no question of undermining our neutrality or officials not doing their job. That is something we can refer to. This is a working document; therefore, perhaps, there is time to do that, unless it has been passed. There are many references to NATO and obviously it has capability but when it states the European Union must enhance its capacity in line with that of NATO, those of us who have concerns about militarisation need to see someone hold up a flag and state Ireland’s key position and the key decisions we have taken in recent years. That would be useful.