Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

While I accept that it is an informal meeting and welcome the clarification that it is the Secretary General of the Department of Defence who has travelled to represent the Minister of State, has he been specifically instructed to state categorically that Ireland is a neutral country, that we have no interest in the creation of a common army, that we will not countenance any change to the current position and that we would rather look towards reversing some of the common defence strategies the European Union seems to be undertaking. While I accept that there are no decisions to be made, it is at these informal meetings that different views from different countries are sought and they end up forming the basis on which future policy is made. It is very important that Irish representatives are very clear from day one, otherwise there will be situations in which proposals will emerge later that will be contrary to the position taken by the State.

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