Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

: I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following:

"notes that: — Ireland's policy of military neutrality is characterised by non-membership of military alliances, or common or mutual defence arrangements, and this policy choice has been practised by successive Governments since the Second World War;

— the Government reaffirms its commitment to this policy and reiterates that it has no plans to either join a military alliance or enter into a mutual defence arrangement; and

— the Government does not believe a referendum enshrining neutrality in the Constitution of Ireland is either necessary or appropriate;

recognises that:

— Russia's brutal and illegal invasion of Ukraine, blatantly violating the United Nations (UN) Charter and international law, has fundamentally changed the geopolitical and security landscape in Europe;

— in its wake, countries all over Europe have examined their foreign, security and defence policies;

— in common with other partners in Europe, Ireland therefore finds itself in an increasingly contested, dynamic and volatile international security environment, marked by violence and conflict in our immediate neighbourhood, including in the Middle East and Africa; and

— as a highly globalised country, Ireland cannot rely on our geographic isolation for our security, nor isolate ourselves from world events; acknowledges that: — the Government convened a Consultative Forum on International Security Policy from 22nd – 26th June, 2023, with a view to building public understanding and generating discussions on Ireland's foreign, security and defence policies;

— the Government remains committed to taking forward a number of actions in follow up to last year's Consultative Forum on International Security Policy, focusing in particular on opportunities for multilateral and international engagement and steps to tackle new and emerging threats, including through engagement at the UN, European Union (EU), and the NATO Partnership for Peace programme;

— Ireland has a long tradition of international engagement, including through participation in UN and UN-mandated, EU-led, and NATO-led peacekeeping missions and, in this context, the Government has approved the drafting of legislation which will govern the future deployment of the Irish Defence Forces as part of an international peacekeeping or crisis management operation;

— this legislation will reinforce our ability to pursue an independent foreign policy by removing the power of UN Security Council permanent members to veto our national sovereign decisions regarding our participation in peacekeeping missions, and will also allow for the deployment of Defence Forces personnel overseas in roles such as the crisis management evacuation of Irish citizens; and

— Ireland will also continue to support a strong EU role in the maintenance of international peace and security and will engage actively in the EU's Common Security and Defence Policy, including through the EU's Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO); and further notes that: — under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders 1973 and 1989, it is expressly prohibited for civil aircraft to carry munitions of war in Ireland without an exemption to do so by the Minister for Transport, and the process for the granting of such exemptions is robust and includes advice from the Department of Foreign Affairs in respect of international humanitarian law and Ireland's international obligations; and

— under the terms of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, all foreign military aircraft wishing to overfly, or land in, the State require diplomatic clearance from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and this is subject to strict conditions, including that the aircraft is unarmed, carries no arms, ammunition or explosives, does not engage in intelligence gathering, and that it does not form part of a military exercise or operation.".

I welcome the opportunity to hear the perspectives of Members of the House on Ireland's policy of military neutrality. We now need to focus on a more serious, sustained and informed discussion on our international security and policy choices. The security situation in Europe has changed significantly. This calls for a serious consideration of the State's approach to international security issues and the contribution we can and should make to the safety and security of Europe.

As Ireland is a highly globalised country, we cannot rely on our geographic isolation for our security, nor isolate ourselves from world events. It is important to be clear on precisely what we are discussing. Ireland's policy of military neutrality, as practised by successive Governments over many decades, means that Ireland does not participate in military alliances or common or mutual defence arrangements. There are no plans to change this policy. The Government's countermotion explicitly reaffirms this position.

On a general point about the discussion, many of the Deputies on the other side quoted statements made more than ten years ago, in 2013, by different politicians and stated there had been no discussion of this matter during the last general election. I do not know what planet they have been living on. The world has changed since the last general election. Russia illegally invaded Ukraine. In my lifetime, I have not experienced a war in Europe. Nobody in this building has ever seen a war on the Continent of Europe in their lifetimes. None of us in this building have ever seen one.

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