Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This matter was discussed in the foreign affairs committee and I expressed my concerns there. I will continue to express concerns about the direction in which we seem to be getting pushed. I did not sign up to a European army. I did not sign up to the European Union joining with other states eventually to have a European army. We have our Defence Forces, of which all of us are very proud. I am proud that I am a former Minister for Defence. I saw at first hand the great work our people have done in peacekeeping. I emphasise that it was peacekeeping. I do not want to join the big boys and be part of a European army that gets involved in all sorts of crisis management and many other things that are doubtful. I want our Defence Forces to be fully equipped and available to serve in peacekeeping missions.

I rejected the Deputy from Fianna Fáil having his usual smart go at me because I happen to be a member of Fine Gael. I will speak my mind on these issues.

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