Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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580. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence with regard to the Government's White Paper on Defence, if he will consider a change to the State's policy and definition of military neutrality; if he will consider the use of Shannon Airport by the military of the United States of America, to be a breach of that military neutrality, and of other policies under the Defence portfolio; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17204/16]

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy was previously informed in the House on the 8th of October 2015, the White Paper on Defence, which was published last summer, following a broad and extensive consultative process, did not change Ireland's policy of military neutrality. The Government’s recent review of foreign policy and the Defence White Paper confirmed that Ireland will continue to maintain its traditional policy of military neutrality which means non-membership of military alliances and non-participation in common or mutual defence arrangements.

Ireland's policy of military neutrality was formed in an era when inter-State conflict was the key issue of national security for most States. The State’s policy of remaining outside of military alliances has remained in place ever since. Thankfully, the threat of inter-State war in Europe is much diminished, but there will continue to be new and emerging threats in the defence and security environment.

The reality remains that the world continues to evolve to such an extent that no one country alone can respond adequately to the threats in the defence and security environment and inevitably there will be threats and challenges that have not yet been anticipated. Such security challenges will require an enhanced collective and comprehensive approach, and there will be an increasing emphasis on security co-operation.

The issue of overflights by foreign military aircraft and the use of Shannon by foreign military aircraft are the responsibility of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. However, the Deputy will be aware that successive Governments have made overflight and landing facilities available at Shannon Airport to the United States for well over 50 years. These arrangements do not amount to any form of military alliance with the US and are governed by strict conditions, applied to ensure compatibility with our traditional policy of military neutrality.

Finally, it goes without saying that all our policy responses must realistically reflect current and future security challenges and should be able to accommodate the necessary responses, both national and collective without prejudice to our policy of military neutrality.