Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

I do not agree with the Minister of State or Senator Alex White. Inserting into the Constitution the phrase, "the State shall, in particular, maintain a policy of non-membership of military alliances", would clear up the doubt that exists among the public. We must remember the Government voted down an amendment to the Constitution which would have enshrined neutrality as part of the Constitution. This amendment seeks to address some of the deficiencies in the Constitution and the Lisbon treaty. The best guardians of neutrality are not the parliamentarians but the people. Enshrining it in the Constitution would ensure the people, not the Cabinet or Oireachtas Members, would have the final say. I do not agree with the Minister of State or the other parties because outside of the triple lock mechanism, we have signed up to articles of mutual defence and, under Article 28, the appropriation of funds and the rapid accession to astart-up fund, all contained in the Lisbon treaty. I will press the amendment and call a vote on it.