Feargal Quinn (Independent)

There has been particular mention of the fact that we call ourselves neutral. I am not sure that we are neutral between good and evil but we are a non-aligned nation, with an involvement in the United Nations. I recall going to Baldonnel in 1961 to watch the first airplanes carry Irish troops away to the Congo. There was a real sense of pride in the nation. We have had a foreign policy of which we can be proud. The other aspect of our foreign policy has been overseas aid.

There has been a moral and ethical policy throughout those years. There is one exception. I believe Ireland has not taken a balanced view with regard to Israel. The voices we hear in the House tend to condemn Israel on practically every occasion so I wish to put a balancing argument against that viewpoint.