Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change) | Oireachtas source

This AUKUS agreement represents an increase in the military build-up in the area which will undoubtedly meet with a response from China. Despite claims to the contrary by the US and China, this is an escalation towards a new cold war, reminiscent of that between the US and the former Soviet Union. As Ireland now holds the presidency of the Security Council, will the Minister and the Government commit, as a matter of urgency, to seeking a meeting of the Security Council to discuss these issues? I note that the multilateral, rules-based approach was discussed in April. I believe this situation should be discussed in this Chamber. In the newspapers at the weekend, a journalist called Vincent Boland said:

The final message from AUKUS, however, is the most dismaying because it reminds us that the world is engaged in a new arms race. China, the US and Britain are already armed to the teeth and Australia will join them soon. One would think they were preparing for war. As history demonstrates, the more nations prepare for war, the more likely they are to get one.

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