Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Mar Theachta atá tar éis Billí a chur faoi bhráid na Dála cúpla uair chun an neodracht a shá i mBunreacht an Stáit, tacaím leis an rún seo. Seasaim i gcoinne iarrachtaí an Rialtais, agus iarrachtaí an Tánaiste, an Teachta Micheál Martin, ach go háirithe, creimeadh a dhéanamh ar sheasamh onórach an Stáit Éire a bheith neodrach. Nuair a theip ar an Rialtas sna reifrinn ar na conarthaí Nice agus Liospóin, tháinig sé ar sheift an ghlais thriaraigh agus gheall sé go réiteodh an fhoclaíocht a bhí ann chuile fhadhb agus nach raibh gá ar bith le reifreann chun neodracht a shá sa Bhunreacht. Feicimid anois nach raibh sa mhéid seo ach cleas trí-chárta seachas trí ghlas agus go bhfuil an Rialtas seo ag triail fáil réidh leis ina iomláine. Idir an dá linn, tá sé tar éis tuilleadh creimeadh a dhéanamh ar sheasamh neamhspleách agus neodrach na tíre. Despite claims to the contrary, successive Governments have not been hampered by the triple lock, as they gradually expanded our submersion into the EU military agenda, the centralised arms procurement, the increased investment of the arms industry and the gradual emergence of an EU army.

Since the triple lock was adopted by this State, there has been an increased use of Shannon Airport as a military stopover for the US with soldiers travelling to and from wars. We have joined the European Defence Agency. We have joined EU battle groups. This Government and other Governments have voted down Bills to enshrine neutrality in Bunreacht na hÉireann. They have backed the EU defence fund and the establishment of an EU military headquarters, have sent Irish Rangers into Mali and signed up to PESCO. Earlier, I heard the Tánaiste mention our proud record on the global stage and the proud history of Irish soldiers overseas. Why then did he instruct the disengagement and withdrawal of 133 Irish soldiers from the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, UNDOF, mission to the Golan Heights? Surely it is a proud record that Irish soldiers, 2,700 of them, have served in that region. Why would he withdraw them at a time when, more than ever, there is an increased commitment needed for peace in that region?

The legacy of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael Governments has been to erode the neutrality of this State and to weaken the Defence Forces to such a degree that the very basis and existence of some branches of the Defence Forces are now in question because this Government and previous Governments have continued to erode it to the point that we cannot patrol our seas or our skies.

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