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

I want to respond to what Deputy Doherty said. It is an equally significant statement if a member of Government reassures the committee that this does not impact on our neutrality. At the start of her questioning to me, Deputy Farrell asked how a charge could be created and I explained that because of our neutrality, a charge would not be created due to the implementation of this directive.

Deputy Doherty referred to other strands of opinion within Fine Gael and that is a strand of opinion that I do not agree with. I believe our neutrality is an essential element of our foreign policy identity within the EU. Sinn Féin has had, until recently, a poor view overall of the general development of the Union. I have to protect and negotiate on behalf of our country within the EU and it is my recommendation to this committee that use of a derogation on this matter is not a good way to manage such derogations. It is implementing an excise directive, which will have no effect on our neutrality whatsoever.