Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate on this motion. Ireland prides itself as a neutral and peaceful nation. Our neutrality is a strength. It is valued and supported by the Irish people. On the international stage our neutrality has underpinned our contribution to peacemaking and diplomacy and has never been a weakness. In the Tánaiste's opening comments at the committee on defence yesterday, he called once again for the triple lock to be removed. Sinn Féin is absolutely opposed to the move by the Government to undermine Irish neutrality by scrapping the triple lock. This goes against the views of the Irish public and goes against the Tánaiste's own views when he was in opposition. What has changed since he entered into government?

The real issue we should speak about is the fact that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have run our Defence Forces into the ground, leaving them under-resourced and underpaid.

See this speech in context