Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

I will continue and I will try not to repeat the points I have already made. I am trying to keep this as brief as required. It is Committee Stage and I have not abused my position up to now. Other Deputies will be able to address this amendment if they so wish.

I have lost my train of thought but I will return to it. There is not much more I have to say on this and we have wasted two or three minutes in a small exchange which was not required.

I was dealing with structured co-operation. This is a dangerous area for Ireland and our neutrality. It allows a group of states within the EU to form permanent military groups within the EU to implement more demanding military adventures. It is not clear whether once established these groups can have their own defence policies. This would be interesting. Not everything was negotiated and there is room for these countries to do what they wish because it is not prevented.

Their military operations shall be "in accordance with the principle of the single set of forces" which is just another way of saying "a European army". France has already proposed that the six largest EU states establish a massive EU intervention army using this protocol. One might say, "let them at it", but we are members of the European Union and operations carried out by such an army in theatres of war or other theatres outside of the European Union will have the consequence of us being associated with them by virtue of the fact we are members of the European Union. We would suffer consequences or loss of standing in countries where such an army was involved. It is interesting that we can ringfence money to progressively improve our military capabilities, which will be the effect of Government spending in this area, but that we cannot through this document progressively improve public service capabilities or strengthen the technological base of the community or disability sectors. The treaty makes no provision for these sectors but goes out of its way to strengthen the industrial and technical base of the defence sector or to progressively improve military capabilities.

Whatever is contained in this document, the negotiators have failed us. Why did the Minister not succeed in having inserted in the treaty a specific clause which gives full effect to his beloved triple lock? There is no mention of neutral states in the document. Also, where is provision made in respect of opt-out of the EU Defence Agency or EURATOM? What protection is provided to our existing relationship with the UN? We have moved to endorsing fully the EU battle groups, the increased and expanded Petersberg Tasks and the NATO agenda.

I mentioned previously Fianna Fáil's election promises in regard to neutrality, partnership for peace and so on. They have not lived up to these promises but have done the opposite. People need to be mindful of this when considering the implications of this treaty in regard to Irish neutrality and expenditure on future military adventures in the world.

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