Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Thursday, 3 July 2025
Committee on Defence and National Security
General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025: Discussion (Resumed)
2:00 am
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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Perfect.
My next question is for both witnesses. I was unimpressed with Commissioner Kallas's comments. I recognise and am happy to say that her country suffered oppression during the 20th century under the Soviet Union. I have no problem saying that whatsoever, but it was wrong of her to denigrate what was experienced in Ireland. She used that to strike out against Ireland's policy of neutrality. She did not reference the triple lock. She only spoke about neutrality. Do the witnesses believe that attitude is widely held at a leadership level in the EU, namely, that Ireland's neutrality is a questionable policy and one that has limited validity or application?