Dáil debates
Wednesday, 23 October 2024
Ceisteanna - Questions
Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements
1:10 pm
Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source
The Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has likened the German-led European Sky Shield Initiative, ESSI, to Israel's iron dome. The comparison is not simply that it is an attempt to form some sort of iron dome, but at the heart of the ESSI is Arrow 3, an Israeli-American missile system used by and supplied to Europe by the genocidal state of Israel to the tune of billions of euro. It is further evidence of complicity of the arms supply chain between the EU and Israel. In addition, a stated aim of the initiative is to "strengthen NATO's integrated air and missile defence". Just a few weeks ago, Micheál Martin wrote to Leo Varadkar, saying "I wish to assure the Deputy, however, that Department officials are considering ESSI and other European developments". It was also reported - I think on Saturday - that the Irish Government is considering joining the ESSI, despite the links with Israel. Will the Taoiseach commit today not to enter the ESSI, which would clearly be a blatant breach of our neutrality? It would be a tightening of the noose of our further integration into NATO and provide more backhanded support to Israel.
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