Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On Monday 13 November, 22 EU defence ministers signed the permanent structured cooperation agreement, known as PESCO. Ireland was not one of the 22 to sign up, but today we are debating and voting on Ireland's involvement in what will be an EU army.

Once again, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are joining forces to try to ram through and fast-track a debate that will undermine Ireland's neutrality without sufficient debate and scrutiny by the Oireachtas and the public. Considering the lip service of these parties to Irish neutrality and the popularity of Irish neutrality among the public, this approach comes as no surprise. I am particularly disappointed and aggrieved with the behaviour of members of the so-called Independent Alliance, who not long ago shared these Opposition benches with us. When in opposition, they repeatedly and loudly spoke out in favour of Irish neutrality. Two years ago, they supported a Bill to hold a referendum enshrining neutrality in Bunreacht na hÉireann. Shortly afterwards, they supported Deputy Wallace's Bill to affirm Ireland's neutrality in the Constitution by adherence to the provisions of the 1907 Hague Convention on neutrality. The same people now sit at the Cabinet table. They had the opportunity to stop this two weeks ago but not one of them had the moral courage or the resolve to speak out, stand up for Irish neutrality and vote against this departure. Perhaps they did not hear or chose not to listen to Frederica Mogherini, who said that the dream of creating an EU defence union was no longer a dream, but had now become a reality.

PESCO will lead to the creation of an EU army. It is everything we predicted it would be during the Lisbon treaty debates. This is not about anti-terrorist measures and keeping people safe, as the Government spin would have it. There is already co-operation in the justice and policing area for that end. This is about creating an EU army to compliment NATO and an EU defence union to enrich weapon makers and dealers.

Despite being attacked by the establishment parties and a compliant media as scaremongers, we again have been proven correct on the dangerous and increased militarist direction that the EU has taken as well as on the priority it is now placing on militarisation projects. During the debate the official statement of the Government was that the Lisbon treaty does not affect or prejudice Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality. We knew this was entirely bogus at the time and events and actions have proven that we were correct.

Yesterday the Taoiseach told the House that PESCO was nothing new and just part of the Lisbon treaty. It is not some benign humanitarian force. Its mandate, as outlined in the Lisbon treaty, includes the requirement for participating states to make troops available for deployment as part of PESCO missions. There is no arrangement for opting in or out.

Ireland's deeper integration into the European Union's military system is completely unacceptable and not wanted by the vast majority of Irish people. If the motion is passed, the fight against PESCO will not end. Ireland's involvement in PESCO would violate Article 29.4.9° of Bunreacht na hÉireann which states the Government cannot adopt any European Union decision that would create an EU common defence, as outlined in Article 42 of the Lisbon treaty. A constitutional challenge is guaranteed and the courts will rule on this matter.

I find it particularly disturbing that the Government and the European Union argue that they do not have any spare money for positive social and economic programmes such as youth employment projects, community regeneration and improving public services, for example, health care and supports for children and adults with special needs, yet they have announced that €1.5 billion will be spent each year on a regressive military project to ultimately facilitate a standing EU army. PESCO's own benchmark is to increase defence investment expenditure by 20%. We have serious housing, homelessness and health crises which are getting worse every week. The Government states it has no additional money to tackle social and economic problems, yet it can miraculously find millions of euro to buy weapons. I know where my priorities for investment lie.

It is time to end this farce by voting against Ireland joining this EU army. We must have a referendum to enshrine neutrality in Bunreacht na hÉireann. The Government must give the people their democratic say on neutrality once and for all.

This debate reminds me of the Government's attitude to the use of Lariam. It states there is no problem with the drug, despite clear evidence to the contrary. One only needs to speak to one of the soldiers who have taken Lariam and whose lives have been destroyed by it. The Government seems to operate in a parallel reality in which it sees no problem with joining PESCO, whereas the truth is much different.

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