Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The ongoing issue of Ireland’s neutrality seems to be constantly in the news. It is being pushed by various commentators, including the usual suspects in government who seem to always be flagging the issue that we need to somehow change our approach towards something of which the Irish people are very proud, namely, our neutral status. There has been a systematic attempt to constantly eat away at our neutrality. Most recently, we have seen that from both the Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, and the Tánaiste, Deputy Micheál Martin, who recently announced he will bring forward proposals in the coming weeks on a consultative forum to address Ireland’s broader foreign and defence policy, which will include our position on neutrality. Many people have consistently raised concerns regarding the watering down of our neutrality and the constant chipping away at it. That was evident through the referendums on the Nice and Lisbon treaties and the insistence of the Government that Ireland join permanent structured co-operation, PESCO, an EU group that includes military training and exercise and the development of military equipment. That chipping away continues, as was evident last July when the then Minister for Defence, Deputy Coveney, welcomed Ireland becoming a full participant on five PESCO projects. Each such step by Fine Gael- and Fianna Fáil-led governments through decades can be seen as watering down our neutrality. We now have this consultative forum but there is no need for it. In numerous referendums, the people have stated clearly that they are proud of our neutrality and do not want it changed. As my colleague, an Teachta Brady, has stated, a referendum is the correct forum for any discussion on Irish neutrality. It is easy to see why such a suggestion would be ignored by the Government, given that two thirds of voters in the most recent poll on the issue indicated they do not want any change in our neutrality, with less than one quarter in favour of such change. It is clear there is no appetite for moving on the position of Ireland’s neutrality. As I stated, it is a position of which we have been very proud. It has given us a unique advantage on the world stage as we are seen as honest brokers when we go into negotiations. Why would we want to give up that unique position on the world stage just to pander to those who like to constantly do the sabre-rattling at EU level? I hope the public will see through the consultative forum. Instead of the forum, the Government should be giving us a referendum on neutrality.