Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the implications of the solidarity clause in the Lisbon Treaty for this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10333/08]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the effect the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty will have on Irish neutrality; if after ratification Ireland could be forced into a common defence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10347/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 136 together.

The Reform Treaty will have no effect on Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality. The Bill for the referendum on the Reform Treaty retains the Constitutional prohibition on participation in an EU common defence, should one ever be proposed. In addition, the Treaty retains the provision that the Union's security and defence policy "shall not prejudice the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain Member States", a formulation originally proposed by Ireland to protect our particular position. Unanimity also remains the rule for decision-making on security and defence issues within the Union, including in respect of the launch of any crisis management mission.

As regards the Solidarity Clause, this relates to circumstances where an EU Member State is the object of a terrorist attack or the victim of a natural or man-made disaster. In responding to a request from a Member State which was the victim of such a terrorist attack or of a natural or man-made disaster, it would be for this country to determine the nature of the response we might make, in accordance with our Constitutional and legal framework.