Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

The media reports that the Government opposes the Bill on the basis that it is "unnecessary". People may ask what that means and why it is unnecessary. Perhaps many people assume it is unnecessary because they believe neutrality is already enshrined in the Constitution, which it is not, or the reason the Government believes it is unnecessary is that it is saying "Do not worry; there is no threat to neutrality from this Government". The evidence is very clearly to the contrary. The Taoiseach who leads the Government, as per his own words of two or three weeks ago, explicitly stated that neutrality is a policy issue that can change at any time. The refusal of the Minister for Finance, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, last week during Leaders' Questions to give a commitment, for which I will again ask today, to have a referendum before Ireland signs up to the European rapid reaction force, which the Minister, Deputy Coveney, appears to want to participate in-----

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