Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

This is a further nail in the Irish neutrality coffin. I will not go into the background of the issue. My preference would be to deal with it in the House before it is referred to a committee. Proposing to send it to committee without debate here is bypassing one of the stages of democratic accountability for such a major change in Irish foreign and defence policy as outlined in the motion. We deserve that it be debated fully here so that all the implications of the motion can be teased out, including that the proposed battle group will have its headquarters in Britain and that we will be joining a battle group with other NATO members. That in itself deserves full debate in the House before referral to committee.

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