As a neutral member state Ireland can play a fundamental role in the forging of the EU's common foreign and security policy. However, we do not need to go down the Enda Kenny and Gay Mitchell road of cheap headlines and political opportunism. We can make a difference in a number of ways on our own. Now is an ideal time for the neutral and non-aligned states of the European Union to co-operate with one another and to attempt to collaborate on policies in this area of security and defence. We in Ireland must realise that this is not a 14 against one scenario since Sweden, Finland and Austria are our natural allies.