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

Ireland is not a member of NATO. NATO can speak for itself on these issues, but if one speaks to colleagues in other parts of Europe that are members of NATO, they will give a very different perspective from that just given by Deputy Boyd Barrett in terms of their own protection and security into the future given their historic relationship with other countries that they still regard as a potential threat. Ireland is in the fortunate geographical position in the world where it does not feel threats externally from a conventional military attack. That has allowed us to be militarily neutral. That is the position we should sustain and maintain because it allows us to make interventions internationally that at times are helpful. We need to focus less on name calling and more on trying to use a language of defusing tension in the context of the pressure and tension that is building between Russia and Ukraine, and indeed Russia and Europe and NATO.

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