Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

At least Fine Gael is honest about its intentions. It has been for over 20 years. When it produced its document, Beyond Neutrality, in its effort to dismantle neutrality, the Taoiseach described it as an out-of-touch ideological obsession. Fine Gael, in that policy document, described the Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil's approach as the nod-and-wink approach of signing up to initiatives and telling the Irish people that it is something else.

The Taoiseach has adopted the Fine Gael approach and it has adopted his. It is a nod-and-wink approach of trying to dupe the Irish people that this is not about neutrality, it is about vetoes, while at the same time pursuing the Taoiseach's obsession of getting rid of neutrality. That is the reality of it. This is the first step, and let us be clear about it.

The Taoiseach should be honest with the Irish people. He should be clear about what this is all about and he should do the honourable thing. If he genuinely believes that he is acting in the interests of the Irish people, he should let the Irish people have their say. Let us have a referendum on Irish neutrality. Let us have the debate and let the people decide whether they cherish neutrality or whether they trust Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael with these decisions.

See this speech in context