Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am very proud of the dynamic role we are playing in peacekeeping operations over the world and in our engagement with partners in the European Union. I recognise the importance of us being members of Partnership for Peace and I do not have a problem of any description with our military neutrality, but I will reiterate and repeat every time anyone asks me that I am not neutral when it comes to terrorism and people being blown apart. I am not neutral when it comes to cyber security issues and ensuring that people are protected against individuals who engage in cyber crime and seek to disrupt not just companies and individuals, but states. I regard our involvement in Partnership for Peace as of importance. Unfortunately, Sinn Féin, a body that had a great belief in military engagement until relatively recently, has a particular perspective on these issues.

Partnership for Peace was established in January 1994 as a means of outreach to the new democracies in central and eastern Europe and as a way to promote stability and strengthen relationships through the promotion of practical co-operation. It is a very important grouping. It has since been joined by states that wish to become NATO members and those that do not. Partnership for Peace includes the neutral and non-aligned states of Finland, Sweden, Austria and Switzerland. Russia is also a member, something of which some members of Sinn Féin in its earlier guise would have approved. They were never quite neutral over Russia. Some of them thought what Russia did in most parts of the world was a reasonably good thing.

We have been a member of Partnership for Peace since December 1999, and in that time, Dáil Éireann has approved a presentation document setting out overall priorities for Ireland's participation, the foremost being co-operation in peacekeeping. I am pleased that our engagement in Partnership for Peace has ensured the Defence Forces operate at the highest level, allowing for interaction with other members of Partnership for Peace in UN peacekeeping missions. It is particularly in the interests of this State, using our expertise in peacekeeping, that we maintain that relationship.

See this speech in context