Diarmuid Wilson (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I commend Senators Clonan and McDowell and my colleagues on putting forward this important motion. It is timely, given the war situation we are in. I would like to say a few words on behalf of Fianna Fáil and then to make a few comments on what Senators Clonan and McDowell have said in their contributions.

Neutrality means different things to many people. As a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Ireland as a country is beginning to question our neutrality policy and to ask what it means to be neutral. Fianna Fáil is dedicated to Ireland's policy of military neutrality. It is a policy we have pursued both in and out of Government and its key and defining characteristic is non-membership of military alliances. This policy of military neutrality has gone hand-in-hand with strong support for international co-operation to ensure peace and stability, as manifested in Ireland's participation in United Nations-mandated peacekeeping operations. Various Defence Acts passed by the Oireachtas mean that Ireland only takes part in missions which are unambiguously authorised by the United Nations and on the basis of a sovereign decision made by the Government, subject to the approval of the Dáil. Furthermore, Article 29 of the Constitution confirms Ireland's dedication "to the ideal of peace and friendly co-operation amongst nations founded on international justice and morality." Article 29 also upholds our observance of the principles of peaceful resolution of international disputes.

The second Nice treaty referendum introduced a provision in the Constitution affirming that Ireland could not take part in common defence without further amendment of Bunreacht na hÉireann. This gave solemn effect to the solemn commitment in the national declaration by Ireland in Seville that a referendum would be held in Ireland on the adoption of a decision taken by the European Union to move to a common defence. The Seville Declaration clarified that there was nothing in the Nice treaty or previous treaties that posed a threat to Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality. In order for Ireland to join a common defence, the people would first have to vote to delete or amend this constitutional provision. While no decision to create a common defence can be taken at the European Council without Ireland's agreement, it has never been Ireland's position that we would attempt to block the desire of other member states to establish common defence arrangements among themselves in circumstances where Ireland would not participate, as long as those arrangements would not prejudice its national interests. With this in mind, Fianna Fáil does not see a case to amend the Constitution at this time.

I want to address a number of the points Senators Clonan and McDowell raised. I refer first to the Defence Forces. Since 1958, as we are all aware, Ireland has had an unbroken and distinguished involvement in United Nations peacekeeping, and Senator Clonan himself was involved with that. Thousands of members of the Defence Forces, of various ranks, have served abroad, and on at least 12 occasions to date, have provided the head of mission. We had a comprehensive debate here a number of months ago on the Commission on the Defence Forces. On that occasion, Members from all sides welcomed the report, the commitment to increase funding for the Defence Forces and a number of other amendments that were going to take place. I welcomed the fact that the Government has committed a substantial budget, that is ring-fenced and index-linked, for the next five years for the Defence Forces.

However, as Senators Clonan and McDowell referred to, can we truly be a neutral State if we cannot defend ourselves? If we are honest with each other the answer to that question is that we cannot.In welcoming the increase in funding that has been ring-fenced, we need to go further with that given the circumstances we find ourselves in as an island nation on the periphery of Europe.

The main power we have had as a member of the United Nations and as an honest broker throughout the world has been what they call and term “soft power”. I have witnessed this on a number of occasions, most recently on a visit to the United Nations with Deputies Flanagan and Brady. The influence that Ireland has in the United Nations because of that soft power is immense. However, that cannot be taken for granted and, unfortunately, we are in a changing world. We are vulnerable in a number of areas, as has been outlined, such as the air force and the navy, but increasingly in cybersecurity.

I look forward very much to the remainder of this debate. Perhaps the Minister could address the fact that, under the triple lock, Russia and China will have a veto on what missions this country takes part in if we do not change something in that regard.