Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will make a general point. I noted Dr. Burke's comments on the issue of neutrality. It seems that we are long overdue a sensible and calm debate about neutrality and what it means in the context of where we are in today's world. What does our neutrality mean? Does anyone really know what neutrality means in a day's work? I do not know. I am not sure what it means. We need to be open and frank, as Dr. Burke outlined, in respect of where we are on neutrality. It has been thrown in here. Everyone else's interpretations of neutrality might be different to mine. We are long overdue that debate.

The manner in which Dr. Burke has shared has been excellent; I say that for him. I said on the first day I came to the committee that I have come with a totally open mind on this subject. We listen respectfully to people's opinions, whether they are contrary to what may be developing in our own minds or not. Some of the contributions today have been so lengthy that they have been statements rather than questions. When you are trying to ask a question at the end of your allotted time, there is not time for a reasonable answer to the point you are making. That is very unfair. People have come into the meeting with preset agendas and are doing this committee no favours whatsoever. They are doing the witnesses no favours whatsoever either. They speak for five or six minutes and in the last 30 seconds, look for yes-no answers. That is disrespectful to the permanent members of this committee and I make that point.