Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The move by the Government to rush through the Dáil a motion that integrates the Irish Defence Forces into the EU military apparatus under permanent structured co-operation, PESCO, is at complete odds with Ireland's neutrality. PESCO is about increasing military spending in the EU, increasing co-operation and collaborations between national armies and making them dependent on one other. The promises during the Lisbon II debate about not moving towards military integration in the European Union will now be abandoned. The Government should not make promises it cannot keep and should keep every commitment it makes. The Irish people were sold a pup during the Lisbon II debate and the PESCO motion proves that such a move would be completely at odds with Ireland's neutrality.This motion will be before the House on Thursday. We need further discussion on Ireland joining PESCO and any decision in that regard should be deferred until there has been full scrutiny of this issue by the Oireachtas. Even a cursory investigation of the criteria and implications of PESCO would indicate it is not in Ireland's interest, militarily or financially. What is our response to a fractured world? Is it truly inclusive, a model republic, one that upholds and values neutrality? I would make the point to Senator Grace O'Sullivan that disarmament is a key element of climate action. Does the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Naughten, or any of the Independent members of Government have anything to say about PESCO? I am urging those independent of Government to oppose this motion and to uphold Ireland's neutrality.