Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

A charge on the implementation of the section can only arise if armed forces from another member state are in our country and, particularly from 1 July 2022 onwards, undertaking a common defence activity, which would be under a Common Security and Defence Policy, CSDP, framework. Because our neutrality is very clear, those circumstances will not arise in our country. As to Deputy Barry's question on why I am going ahead with the implementation of this directive, if I do not go ahead with the directive now that I am aware of this issue I would have to seek a derogation from it. I tend to seek derogations in matters that would materially affect our economic or political interests as a State. This section is not one of those things.