Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I welcome the witnesses to the meeting and thank them for their report. I warmly welcome the first part of that report, particularly the reference to the fact that Ireland is a strong supporter of the United Nations, of UN peace keeping operations and is supporting the UN at a European level. However, I must put on my old hat now and I am sure the Chairman is tired listening to me in this regard but I have concerns when I hear terms like battle groups and statements about the European Union and NATO improving co-operation. I am also concerned by the recent appearance of the Secretary General of NATO in Dublin. I hope that does not herald an undermining of our position on the United Nations. I believe Mr. Howard said that Ireland is not an advocate for NATO and I ask him to clarify that point.

Many of us have serious concerns about maintaining Ireland's traditional peacekeeping role and we do not want a situation to develop whereby we build a relationship with NATO. The report to the committee made NATO sound like a nice, friendly organisation but three weeks ago in Afghanistan NATO planes slaughtered ten Afghan children in a drone attack on a village. Is there any question of an undermining of the United Nations and a promotion of the NATO agenda at an Irish or European level? Is it correct that Ireland will not be an advocate for NATO?