Chris Andrews (Dublin Bay South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We have a long and proud tradition of supporting the United Nations peacekeeping missions. Ireland is the only state to have continuous deployment on UN and UN-mandated peace operations since 1958. We should be immensely proud of that commitment to peace and stability. We should stand fully opposed to any attempts to undermine our highly respected standing on the international stage. Where we are known as a voice for peace and justice, we should be developing our soft power and our diplomatic corps, and developing and enhancing our neutrality.

While Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil and the Green Party may be happy to chip away at our neutrality, it is clear that the Irish people stand firmly opposed to it. Irish people stand firmly supportive of Irish neutrality. I would be happy to hear these parties, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party, outline where they see Irish troops being sent. If not on a UN peacekeeping mission, where will the Irish go? Will it be off to prop up some NATO intervention? Should Irish men and women be sent off to put their lives on the line to fulfil the militarist agenda? This is an agenda which is being pushed so hard by a growing element within the EU. The EU has shown itself repeatedly to be happy to do business with rogue states such as apartheid Israel, which shows no respect for international law. This is a state which does not even hide the brutal crimes it commits. This is a state which murders thousands of children in the Gaza Strip yet this Government is telling us that we should send Irish troops to conflict zones selected by the EU.

We should be standing firmly by our commitment to United Nations peacekeeping missions and not be following the militarist line. Ireland must come to the fore in the EU and pull it back to a line of peace, justice and respect.

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