Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I was delighted to hear, a little while ago, that nine-year-old Emily Hand is now on a list of hostages to be released. Please God, that is followed through for her family and the people who have been extremely stressed about her well-being. Let us not forget that if we had expelled ambassadors and gone ahead with the drama that Members were calling for in the Dáil last week, this might not have happened. Some hostages are now being released and there is some sort of a ceasefire. That is only going to come through dialogue.

In the post-Second World War era, Ireland adopted a policy of neutrality to assert its independence from Britain and protect itself from global conflicts due to its geographic isolation. Recent geopolitical changes like the NATO partnerships, the EU Common Security and Defence Policy, CSDP, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine led to a re-evaluation of Ireland's neutrality. However, I believe that maintaining neutrality remains our best choice for the future. Neutrality has been a cornerstone of Irish foreign policy since the Second World War, giving us a unique global position. Recent events triggered a re-examination of our neutrality policy, leading to the creation of a consultative forum on international security policy. While the forum recommended deeper partnerships with NATO and the EU, it ultimately advised maintaining Ireland's neutral status, recognising the importance of parliamentary and public oversight over our national security matters.

Despite being viewed as a balanced and comprehensive report, the forum faces limitations as it cannot make policy recommendations to the Government. The rushed publication of the Department of Foreign Affairs statement of strategy, without public input, raises doubts about the forum's relevance as Ireland faces the challenge of balancing historical neutrality with evolving global challenges. The impact of the consultative forum was undermined by its limited scope and the disjointed Government approach. A more inclusive, co-ordinated and transparent strategy development process is essential for Ireland's continued role as a neutral peace-making State with citizens' participation. I am glad that last week I voted against expelling the Israeli ambassador. I will continue to do so to ensure we do not start a tit-for-tat process that will damage our country's neutrality.

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