Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent)
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I think it is really important to pull back a piece that we are not engaging in individual, different conflicts and assessment. We know there are significant diplomatic means that have been exercised. I have supported many of the diplomatic measures to apply pressure on Russia regarding its illegal invasion of Ukraine and there are sanctions and so forth. There are diplomatic measures which can be taken and perhaps many measure which could be taken and have not been taken in relation to the current actions of Israel in Gaza. There is a raft of tools available that are not always deployed.

It is important to remember two points about Ireland's neutrality, from my perspective, at least. Ireland's neutrality is clear on the point of engagement. It is not that we do not engage or do not care. Active neutrality means exactly things like negotiating. It was not at a peaceful time in the world but in the midst of an arms race is when Frank Aiken took the initiative on nuclear non-proliferation. He did so at a time when everybody was saying they needed nuclear weapons to feel safe. Aiken was of the view that the more we all armed and engaged in the race, the less safe we would all become. He was clear on this. I always think of it as being principles versus interests. Neutrality is where a country engages on the basis of principles rather than interests. In terms of international law and all the diplomatic tools that flow from it, they need to be applied in a fair way, not based on interests but on principles. In the case of Russia, it has clearly breached international law and actions have been taken, rightly, against it. Ireland can take more of a lead in some of those actions if they are not implicated in other ways. It gives Ireland a credibility when they are able to be the arbitrators of that. The world, after the Second World War, was not at a peaceful moment and the Chair very eloquently spoke about the aftermath of war. After the Second World War, the UN Charter spoke about ending the scourge of war as being the collective responsibility of all the nation states of the world. Interestingly, back when the European Union was the European Coal and Steel Community, it was specifically stated that energies were being redirected into steel and coal - obviously, we need it out of coal now - to remove the focus from ammunition. That early, founding document of the European Coal and Steel Community explicitly stated that the collective resources needed to redirected towards the manufacture of steel and coal and away from the manufacture of ammunition, of which Europeans had been the greatest victims. That was the origin point of the European Union. It is really important and I am passionately in favour of Ireland being part of Europe and an active participant. I was very honoured to be part of the future of Europe process where we looked at the future of Europe. A core part of this future is that it be true to that mandate and the kinds of checks and balances that have been built in to the treaties. That is why I am so concerned when I see attempts to erode them in this regard. I wanted to give a broad context. It is important that we do not fall in to hypotheticals about trying to workshop any individual conflict. The key point is to know where Ireland is and what principles it champions and indeed to know what Europe is and what it does and does not have a mandate for and to reflect that. Hopefully, that is what we are going to be able to carry through to the next session when we meet with representatives of the Commission and of the Department of Defence.

Perhaps Ireland might not go along with what the EU has said. What Ireland is beginning to say is that we have an allegiance to the principles of the United Nations but as interpreted by whom? We are undermining its authority. My next tax return is going to be in accordance with the principles of justice but it might not satisfy the commissioners.