Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I proudly campaigned against the Lisbon treaty and the second Lisbon treaty, primarily on two grounds, one of which was the militarisation of Europe, while the second was the opening of markets on a neo-liberal basis. I was demonised at the time, as was a small group of others, but we stood together. The President who was a Deputy at the time actively promoted the Lisbon treaty. In that context, I welcome the speech made today by the Labour Party Deputy on his approach to this issue. I mention this because the Taoiseach told us, in one of the documents I have before me, that this had all been decided in the Lisbon treaty and that we had had plenty of time since to discuss it. Perhaps the Minister of State might comment on this. The Taoiseach has told us that this was done and dusted in the Lisbon treaty in 2009. That is an extremely worrying statement.

Various people have been quoted, including Mr. Jean-Claude Juncker who clearly indicated a will and a desire to push for a European army, yet at the same time the Lisbon treaty, in article 10(3), that "Every citizen shall have the right to participate in the democratic life of the Union. Decisions shall be taken as openly and as closely as possible to the citizen". The Minister of State might reflect on that article and tell us how the Government has complied with it in the PESCO arrangement that is being rushed through the Dáil, regrettably with the support of Fianna Fáil. What document has been given to us outlining what the Government is signing up to, what it is opting into and what it is opting out of? I relied on my own research and organisations on the ground which I thank for all of their work which is done on a voluntary basis.

I have looked at the notification on the permanent structured cooperation, PESCO, arrangement. Has the Minister of State, Deputy Seán Kyne, or Deputy Alan Farrell read any of it? I have read it and it does not make for pleasant reading. It is ten pages long and some of it has been quoted. I will quote some more from it. It reads: "Based on the collective benchmarks identified in 2007..." I do not have time to read the rest of it as I only have two minutes left. It also states, "Aiming for fast-tracked political commitment at national level, including possibly reviewing their national decision-making procedures". It refers to increasing the share of expenditure on defence, which is spelled out in black and white.

Did the Government read the document? Is that what we are signing up to or are we opting into what is outlined on page 2 and opting out of what is stated on page 3? What are we doing? I would have thought my ex-colleague in Fianna Fáil would have at least raised questions about the process. What are we signing up to? Who has seen the document and when will we see it? Will we see it after the decision is made next week? We have not been told why there is such a rush to make the decision. Why does it have to be made this week? Cén fáth é sin? An bhfuil a fhios ag an gCathaoirleach? An bhfuil a fhios ag éinne sa Dáil? Why does it have to be made by next week without any information being placed before us? We have had a contemptuous level of argument from the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade this morning who referred to hysterical and exaggerated responses and said we should go and educate ourselves and that we had had plenty of time to do so.

Really? This instrument, which the Government will sign next week, will have the most serious implication and this in a country where nine people have been found dead on our streets since August. There is no hesitation in committing millions - the figures have been quoted and it is like Monopoly money - to increase our spending to encourage an industrial military complex and the arms industry, and all in the guise of peace enforcement. The Government has turned language on its head. I think it has forgotten the difference between right and wrong. It has utterly forgotten the difference between the truth and a lie. It insults the people of Ireland who have in various polls repeatedly told us that they hold the concept of neutrality dearly and do not want it abandoned. If it is to be abandoned, let us do it in a truthful way with knowledge to everyone. How dare the Government treat the people of Ireland like this?

See this speech in context