Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

The Tánaiste said on the RTÉ lunchtime news that Ireland should be more involved in European defence and boost its defence spending, etc. I will speak in this afternoon's debate to express my solidarity with the Ukrainian people and to condemn Putin's invasion of their country. However, the Tánaiste's comments have nothing to do with solidarity with the Ukrainian people. It is a cynical and opportunistic move to push an agenda by the Tánaiste, an agenda Fine Gael has held for quite some time, of aligning Irish foreign policy more closely with the EU and NATO, taking steps towards making the EU a military power and massively increasing the Irish State's expenditure on arms. Where does the Taoiseach stand on the Tánaiste's comments? Does he support the Tánaiste's agenda?

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