Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

While we are militarily neutral as a country, we have always supported efforts to improve the effectiveness of the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy. Indeed, successive governments have not viewed Ireland's policy of neutrality as meaning that the country should stand aside and not get involved in peacekeeping or stability in other parts of the world, rather, they have considered that neutrality enhances Ireland’s reputation internationally and enables more effective engagement in efforts to promote peace and security. That is exactly the approach we are now bringing to these discussions on the strategic compass and the future of defence and security issues. We will continue to advocate on that. We are not the only militarily neutral country, by the way, in the European Union. There are others too, such as Malta, Austria, Sweden and Finland. We bring a perspective to these debates that I think Irish people expect me to bring, which is one that is focused on peacekeeping, co-operation with the UN and peace and security around the world.

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