Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am amazed that the Minister, Deputy Shane Ross, and the Ministers of State, Deputies Finian McGrath and John Halligan, have not been vocal on this motion, first and foremost because of their internationally recognised peacekeeping abilities and, second, because they have been very vocal in this Chamber on such issues previously. I recall listening to all three make very strong and strident arguments in favour of Irish neutrality and against the use, for example, of Shannon Airport as a military base for the United States. It is a great pity they have lost their voice in this time of need when the motion is before the Dáil.

See this speech in context