Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for the question. In respect of neutrality, as the Deputy would expect I am a strong supporter of Ireland's neutrality. In my current role, I can discern the huge benefit it brings to Ireland to allow the Government to conduct its foreign policy in line with the values I believe Irish people to have. On the Deputy's point regarding a referendum, there are no such plans to hold a referendum. As the Deputy will be aware, the Hague Convention to which he referred includes a highly specific definition of what is a country's neutrality or what it should be. Ireland has a long-standing commitment to military neutrality and to the complimentary values thereof, as I articulated in my earlier response to the Deputy. Moreover, the practice that is in place regarding the use of Ireland's airports by aircraft from other countries recognises this.

As to the point made by the Deputy regarding the arrival of a ship that potentially has drugs on board and the question asked as to what would be the response, the key response is that as the Deputy will be aware, if concerned individuals have concerns that the law and policy are being broken, they should provide evidence of that to An Garda Síochána.

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