Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I also congratulate the Minister of State on her elevation to Minister of State with responsibility for defence and European Affairs. As a proud European, I would love to be here speaking on the great things membership of the EU has delivered for Ireland. Sadly, I must devote time to the growing perception of Ireland as a nation of freeloaders weakening Europe and seen as the open back door with our waters viewed internationally as the Wild West.

I will make a few key points. First, EU embassies in Dublin have officials who know and understand international and European defence and security issues. They listen to the uninformed drivel spoken in the Oireachtas on such issues and report same to their capitals. How could this kindergarten level of debate in our Parliament in both Houses and in the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence enhance Ireland's reputation on such issues with our European colleagues?

Second, politicians deliver speeches in the Oireachtas and that committee on international and European defence and security drafted by their officials in which it is suggested - often in the same sentence - that Ireland is simultaneously neutral and non-aligned. Neutrality and non-alignment are polar opposites in international affairs yet we continue to embarrass ourselves in public with such drivel. With further drivel, our Ministers and officials state publicly that Ireland is militarily neutral but not politically neutral. No such division exists in customary international law. A country is either neutral, non-aligned or neither. It is only the Irish who could suggest it is militarily neutral while simultaneously not being politically neutral. It is embarrassing when we are being listened to by an informed audience as was the case recently at the Munich security conference where Ireland once again embarrassed itself publicly on such issues.

In a recent interview, we saw Barry Andrews MEP discuss the issue of freeloading. In his contribution, he shows a complete lack of understanding of what a nation's security and defence requires - applauding the fact that the US and the UK have a vested interest in protecting our State - and then tries to misplace overseas development aid as some part of our defence. Who researches these things for our politicians? Who writes up these things? Is anyone in Government aware of how low numbers in the Defence Forces are damaging our operational capability and, therefore, the security of the State? Do they know the Government is responsible for ensuring properly resourced security services? One or two key issues are worth mentioning today. In 2013, a new pension scheme was brought in by people who clearly do not know understand the role of front-line services such as the Defence Forces, An Garda Síochána and fire services. Has anybody looked at how unviable these pension schemes are? Do they understand that over 50% of uniformed front-line services inducted since 2013 simply cannot afford to stay in service because of the damage done to their pensions? This reckless tinkering with pensions will further damage security through loss of operational capability. As Europe's open back door, serious damage is being done to our ability to secure our skies, patrol our waters and fulfil domestic and overseas commitments.

A central part of the European movement has been to protect workers' rights. Sadly, this protection does not extend to the Defence Forces, who are still outside the working time directive leading to a lack of certainty on health and safety issues. Further evidence of failing to understand workers' rights can be found in the attempts by the Department of Defence with its recent legislation to suppress freedom of expression and further constrain Defence Forces members from advocating for better conditions of service, which is a morale killer. In a recent opinion poll regarding European defence, the results showed that Irish citizens are very much in favour of supporting this. Has anyone in government looked at these results and considered a change of policy?

More drivel on defence matters in recent times has seen ill-informed speakers in both Houses of the Oireachtas waffle on about the dangers of creating an EU defence Commissioner. Why? Should Europe not have somebody watching at the top table? Speeches on the Government's plan to remove the triple lock have led to cries that it will lead to an EU army are simply nonsense. Why would any red-blooded Irish citizen want UN permanent members, many of whom do not agree with each other, to have a veto over our defence decisions? I recently suggested the establishment of an Atlantic fleet to keep Europe's seas safe from drug barons and people traffickers. Clearly no country in Europe is capable to patrol its seas, particularly along the Atlantic coast, but Ireland has a particular difficulty with one operational ship. All that I have suggested is that we act as Europeans in co-operation with one another. Surely that is the European way and the essence of being European.

The recent referenda, which sadly for the Government failed miserably, have shown that both Houses of the Oireachtas are out of touch with public opinion. Nowhere is this more clear than in matters relating to defence. We need to back away from our Paddy neutrality-----