Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I follow on from my exchange with the Taoiseach on Leaders' Questions last week. I do not and cannot understand why we are taking this road and jeopardising our good name. It is a good name that came from our neutrality and involvement in UN-mandated peacekeeping mission. It also came from our development voice, which has been non-aligned, impartial and humanitarian-focused. Why are we allowing ourselves to be drawn into this increasing securitisation and militarisation agenda of the EU? Of course, it started with Shannon Airport through which 3 million troops and their military equipment passed and continues with the agenda of PESCO compatibility with NATO and the report, which was overwhelmingly agreed by the EU Parliament, recommending that the EU should be capable of launching autonomous military missions.

The EU army will be a proxy of NATO of which Ireland is not a member. The Taoiseach referred to his visit to Mali but the EU mission there is propping up France's colonial power in its former colony. It is no coincidence that Mali has plentiful uranium deposits which France needs. How are our development work and the respected voice we have in that regard compatible with being part of a European Defence Agency project? The Taoiseach's reply referred to the need for a secure environment for that work to happen. I agree that everyone should be able to live in a conflict-free environment. The Taoiseach saw no conflict between involvement in peacekeeping on the one hand and international development on the other and that is fine. There is no conflict between peacekeeping and development work. However, being part of an EU army is not peacekeeping. PESCO is about enhanced military collaboration and its rationale.

Regarding the cost, we were told there is no extra spending. However, we are also told that future spending in this area may change as capabilities are developed through PESCO projects. NATO's goal is, of course, for member states to spend 2% of GDP on defence and that is where we are heading. A discussion paper prepared by four MEPs from Fine Gael was entitled "Defending our Common European Home." From whom are we defending it? Who is invading us? That paper was certainly about moving Ireland to weaken its policy of neutrality. This is all being done without any real discussion here and certainly without discussion with the electorate.

See this speech in context