Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Micheál Martin, the current Taoiseach has repeatedly said that the triple lock is at the core of our neutrality. As a neutral independent sovereign State, we should use our voice to champion the UN structures, to reform the UN structures and to get away from the language of rule-based order and talk about international law which has been hard won following two world wars. Then we come to Putin. On this side of the House, we are all on record as condemning the illegal invasion.

I do not hear the condemning of America for its encroachment - to put it mildly - it is taking over and destabilising of a number of countries in South America. I do not hear the Government condemn the new US President at the moment because it suits its purposes. Our credibility is at stake in relation to being neutral. We need our credibility. We need people to be able to trust us so that we speak truth to power regardless of whether it is in America or in-----

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