Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister of State is aware, the European Council in December 2012 proposed that the whole CSDP and its strengthening would be an issue for discussion and decision at the December Council meeting. As the House is aware, the protocol inserted in the Lisbon Treaty provides for our neutrality, and Ireland's views will be influenced and framed by that protocol and our policy of neutrality. Can the Minister of State assure us that, in the forthcoming Green Paper on Defence, the position on the triple lock will not be changed and our participation in foreign missions will remain under the same criteria as they have up to now?

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