Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will address Finland and Sweden first. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the manner in which that took place shocked Finland, which has navigated the relationship with Russia and the Soviet Union before it with great dexterity ever since its foundation, but it shook Finland to the core. I remember Finland's prime minister saying to me that everything they were taught in school and which they were taught to be afraid of had happened with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I met President Sauli Niinistö, a distinguished man in his own right. He had engaged with President Putin at different times and felt betrayed by what had happened. Finland felt there was no option. The public galvanised the Government of Finland towards joining NATO. The same happened in Sweden because of its geographic position.

Austria, Cyprus, Malta and Ireland have taken a different approach. I have put forward the idea of a consultative forum with no preconceived outcomes. People are entitled to express their views. I have had discussions with the three countries the Deputy referred to about the unfolding situation. We have managed, with Austria and others, to facilitate constructive abstention from the peacekeeping facility, whereby lethal aid from Ireland does not go to Ukraine. That is the way forward in navigating military neutrality, which is basically military non-alignment.

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