Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I compliment the Cathaoirleach on his forensic knowledge of important dates relating to countries throughout Europe. His mastery of European languages is awe-inspiring to be honest.

The Maritime Jurisdiction Bill 2021, which came before the House yesterday, brought into sharp focus something that has bothered me for a considerable period, which is the nonsense of Irish neutrality. I constantly receive messages about military aircraft flying into Shannon Airport threatening our neutrality or about this, that and the other threatening our neutrality. Somebody please tell me where it says that Ireland is actually a neutral state and why a supposedly neutral state is allowing its armed forces to fall apart. I ask the Leader to take her courage in her hands and organise a debate in this House on what Irish neutrality is, what it stands for and how we will enforce this supposed neutrality. How do we protect our oceans from invasion, theft, robbery, highwaymen or whatever else? We do not have a Naval Service strong enough to do it anymore. It is only a matter of time before we will have to contract a guard of honour to stand outside the President's house when a new ambassador is introduced because we simply will not have the troops to do it. Let us talk about neutrality and what it means with an open and honest discussion.

Speaking about referendums, if we are to be neutral then let us put it in our Constitution and underpin it with what is required to be neutral, which is to have a military force capable of defending that neutrality. It is high time this country actually discussed that issue.