Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

Tá comhthéacs difriúil ann go huile agus go hiomlán. Má tá an comhthéacs chomh difriúil sin, ba chóir dul ar ais agus conradh a fháíl a bhraitheann ar an gcomhthéacs iomlán nua atá ann, mar deineadh plé ar an chonradh seo nuair a bhí an comhthéacs go hiomlán difriúil. Dá rachadh an Taoiseach ar ais, ní bheadh an conradh seo againn in aon chur. Bheadh níos mó cosanta ann d'ár bhflaitheas agus ár ngeilleagar ann. Ach is cuma sa tsioc leis an Taoiseach, mar chuaigh sé agus thug sé guarantee do mhuintir na hEorpa nach raibh sé ag lorg athraithe ar an chonradh seo agus go ngladfadh sé leis. Is cuma sa tsioc leis agus sin atá déanta aige. Ar an 12 Meitheamh 2008 chaith muid vóta agus dúirt muid "Níl", ach anois tá an Rialtas ag cur iachaill ar mhuintir na hÉireann vóta a chaitheamh athuair ar an cheist cheannann chéanna.

Labour Party and Fine Gael Deputies say the guarantees safeguard Irish neutrality and tax sovereignty and that the solemn declaration received signals the European Union's goal to protect workers' rights. Ba mhaith liom dul tríd na ceisteanna atá ardaithe agamsa agus ag daoine eile ceann ar ceann. On neutrality, the decision of the Heads of State, agreed last Friday, states that the Lisbon treaty does not affect or prejudice Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality. This tells us that Irish troops can only be sent abroad with the consent of the Government, the Council of Ministers and the Oireachtas. Sinn Féin never disputed that. Indeed, the Lisbon treaty is very clear in this regard.

However, neutrality is not only about what a country does with its troops. It is also about the alliances formed and what a country does with its resources and what other member states do in one's country's name. The Lisbon treaty makes clear its intent when it states there shall be a common defence. In expanding the scope of permissible military missions it demonstrates its desire to move beyond peacekeeping and civil reconstruction. In reasserting the compatibility of the European Union foreign and defence policies with those of NATO, it reminds us that the emerging EU common defence is clearly aligned. Provisions for permanent, structured co-operation create the real possibility that wars we do not support will be fought in our name and with our resources.

See this speech in context