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

Are we going to have a referendum about neutrality in this State? The Government claims now not to want to undermine neutrality but, de facto, it tunnels underneath this and does things bit by bit that undermine what is left of neutrality, including the use of Shannon Airport and participation in the Ukraine defense contact group and NATO alliance that is sending soldiers to train Ukrainians in Germany and in Poland. The Government has said, however, that it does not want to undermine neutrality. In that case, will the Taoiseach agree that we should have a referendum about neutrality and whether to enshrine neutrality in the Constitution?

Sometimes some people here speak as if being neutral means one cannot say anything about what is happening in the world and means that one cannot speak out against oppression or condemn, for example, what Israel is doing and cannot describe it as genocide. One could not, for example, take the action of sanctions against Israel. That is not what neutrality means. It is certainly not proposed in our Bill on holding a referendum on neutrality. It would mean that Ireland does not join any military alliance and does not provide any military, economic or political assistance to belligerents. This is what it means. In that context I want to ask a very particular question of the Taoiseach. In the Government's countermotion to our motion on Palestine today, the Government refers to condemning the killing of civilians and children. It is implicitly about Israel because the previous point is about condemning Hamas, but the Government is opposed to a very simple amendment to add the words "by Israel". The Government is opposed to that. I wish to ask clearly whether it is the Government's position that it will not condemn Israel. Is that the position? Does the Government refuse to condemn Israel? Is that why it is opposing the amendment?

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