Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality, as followed by successive Governments, is fully respected and protected. The central and defining characteristics of policy in this area are our non-participation in military alliances and our commitment to the United Nations as the guarantor of international peace and security. Ireland's approach, embodied by this non-membership of military alliances, such as NATO or the WEU, continues to remain viable in the current security environment where the emerging defence and security challenges have moved away from traditional defence towards crisis management and dealing with threats from international terrorism.

Successive Governments have made a political commitment not to join a military alliance without consulting the people first. This commitment was given concrete form in October 2002 when, at the same time as giving their approval for the Treaty of Nice, the Irish people backed a Government proposal to amend the Constitution so as to make it impossible for Ireland to take part in an EU defence without obtaining public approval in a further referendum. This constitutional ban on Ireland's participation in a common defence is carried over in the amendment published by the Government last week on ratification of the European constitution.

The provisions of the European constitution in the security and defence area are fully consistent with Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality. We will not assume any binding mutual defence commitment. Where the European constitution provides for mutual assistance, Ireland will determine its own response in conformity with our traditional approach of military neutrality.

The Government also takes the view that military neutrality on its own is not enough to maintain conditions of peace and security internationally and that it is also desirable to play an active and constructive role internationally. Through the United Nations, and now through regional organisations such as the European Union, Ireland has sought to play a proactive role in preventing and managing conflicts and maintaining peace throughout the world.

The Government will continue to uphold Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality. Ireland will not join a military alliance, but will remain fully and actively engaged in the pursuit of international peace and security, both through the United Nations and the European Union.

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