Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The position of my party and I on neutrality is completely clear. Deputy McDonald has already said that if she were to become Taoiseach, protecting our neutrality would be a key priority. Unfortunately the position of certain parties is not clear and is completely ambivalent. Fine Gael has at least been honest tonight and it has long been calling for a debate on our neutrality and joining NATO. I am shocked to hear some of the commentaries today that we are not ambitious enough, that we need to make a good account of ourselves, speaking of increased militarisation and talking tough. It has been suggested that pushing this agenda forward shows that we are proud of our Defence Forces. We are all proud of our Defence Forces and I would suggest that those who are saying we are proud of our Defence Forces should consider paying them properly. However, many of those who speak of increased militarisation and who call for the Defence Forces to be involved in a variety of situations and pacts do so safe in the knowledge that they will never have to pick up a weapon and stand a post or risk their lives fighting and dying in conflict zones. As far as they are concerned-----

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