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

Louise Richardson's Consultative Forum on International Security Policy report referred to neutrality not being necessary for Ireland's reputation. Regarding the triple lock, it stated that, "While there was not a consensus on this point, the preponderance of views, especially among the experts and practitioners, is that it is time for a reconsideration of the Triple Lock as it is no longer fit for purpose."

These arguments themselves, however, have been weakened by the events of the past two and a half weeks in the Middle East. The very states and institutions this Government would have us align our foreign policy more closely with are precisely those states and institutions that have given the green light to the Israeli state to conduct a war that can only result in the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians. Joe Biden, Ursula von der Leyen, Olaf Scholz and Emmanuel Macron have all done the dirt on the Palestinian people. Biden has sent a Marine Corps three-star general and several military officers to advise the Israeli military. NATO has also had a long and friendly relationship with the Israeli state. As recently as 12 October, the Israeli war minister, Yoav Gallant, dialled into its military committee meeting. This is the same Yoav Gallant, by the way, who said that he had ordered "a complete siege on the Gaza Strip" and:

There will be no electricity, no food, no fuel, everything is closed. We are fighting human animals and we are acting accordingly.

I think it is very clear that the case for this country staying out of military alliances has been very much strengthened and not weakened in recent weeks.

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