Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)

I join with previous speakers in congratulating the Ceann Comhairle on his elevation to such an important office in this House. Having worked with Deputy Kirk in different positions in the past I am confident he will be a very fair Ceann Comhairle. He will bring to this House the same sense of fairness as his predecessor and my fellow countyman Deputy O'Donoghue.

I join the Minister in offering my condolences to the families of Captain Derek Furniss and Cadet David Jevens, two young men taken in the prime of their lives. I thank the Minister for including me and Deputy O'Shea in the service at Baldonnel last night. It was a poignant service and it was important that we were there to support the families. They deeply appreciated it.

On behalf of the Fine Gael Party I welcome this Bill. It is timely in the context of the recent Lisbon treaty referendum. The issue of Ireland's relationship with Europe in all its aspects, including military aspects, was debated in the two referendums on Lisbon. One of the most welcome aspects of the second Lisbon debate was that the public, as research shows, came to have a greater understanding of the treaty, including issues such as the military relationship with the EU if the treaty was passed. Members of this House must ensure we provide the electorate with the necessary information on all aspects of the European project. This includes issues such as the EDA and permanent structured cooperation.

A lack of information breeds suspicion with some people and paranoia with a vocal minority. This House and its Members must be in the business of giving information, not just rhetoric. This debate is a chance to offer information on the EDA, to reassure the electorate that Ireland's membership of the EDA and permanent structured cooporation is no threat to our interests, but of benefit.

The issue of defence is tied up with the issue of neutrality in Ireland. Neutrality has become a key, yet divisive, issue in Ireland. People have concerns that our neutrality is being compromised and that we may end up in NATO or introducing conscription. Neither is on the agenda and I can assure the House that neither will happen whenever Fine Gael is in government.

Ireland's neutrality was recently described as an odd creature. Nowhere in law or in the Constitution is neutrality defined. While it was mentioned in past centuries its modern version was the product of one man, Éamon de Valera. During the War of Independence, as President of the Republic, de Valera suggested in a US newspaper article that an independent Irish Republic would offer a guarantee to Britain of its neutrality. In other words, the Republic would not participate in a war against Britain and would not allow Britain to be attacked from Ireland. He modelled it on the then relationship between the United States and Cuba.

He resurrected the idea, or as they say now he recycled the idea, during the Second World War but, like much associated with de Valera, it was ambiguous. While we did not join the Allies, and certainly had no intention of joining the Axis, we backed the Allies in numerous ways, from spying on German diplomats in Ireland to tipping off the Allies about incoming weather patterns to allow them to plan the right day to launch D-Day. The reality is that in the Second World War we were allied to the Allies, even if not an actual member.

What neutrality means in Ireland is still ambiguous. While neutrality is officially defined under the Hague Convention, in reality many states do not follow that strict definition. Ireland certainly does not. Ireland does not practice the strict neutrality of some European states, where they have developed large expensive armies for self-defence. Instead our neutrality has been passive; it is reflected by what we do not do rather than what we actually do. Neutrality has been a matter of practical reality and not legal necessity.

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