Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We appreciate that there are NATO member states, but this is a neutral state, or at least it should be. It will be hard to swallow for Irish citizens. This is where the European Union sometimes loses touch with its citizens. On the one hand, preparations are being made to cut core programmes that support smaller farmers, in particular, on average and sometimes very low incomes, while, on the other, resources from national taxpayers are going towards increased military spending. What does the Commissioner say to the farmer in west Donegal on an average income of €6,000? Will he say his or her support payments will be cut but that he or she is not to worry because the European Union will defend him or her because it is ramping up spending on military programmes and using Irish taxpayers' money to do so?