Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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356. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether Ireland's neutrality is in question due to the shift towards an alliance with Britain, Europe and the United States; if Ireland has entered into agreements with foreign powers on air defences without consulting Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39827/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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On 24 November last year, the Dáil debated the Thirty-Fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Neutrality) Bill 2016. The debate provided a valuable opportunity to re-state the Government’s commitment to Ireland’s longstanding policy of military neutrality.

As I said at the time, I am satisfied that Ireland’s longstanding policy of military neutrality is safeguarded through existing Constitutional provisions, through the Protocol to the Lisbon Treaty, the Defence Acts, and the long-term policy strategies adopted by Government.

My Department’s statement of foreign policy, The Global Island, approved by Government in January 2015, states clearly that, “Our policy of military neutrality remains a core element of Irish foreign policy”. This was further reinforced in the ten year strategy on defence policy set out in the White Paper on Defence.

These policy settings have been developed in the context of a robust constitutional and legal framework.

Article 29 of the Constitution commits the State to uphold “the ideal of peace and friendly co-operation amongst nations” and to “the principle of the pacific settlement of international disputes.”

The ‘Triple Lock’ arrangement, which governs the deployment of Irish Defence Forces overseas, is set out in the Defence Acts and provides that: the deployment for overseas peace support operations may only be made if that operation is mandated by the United Nations; deployment must also be approved by the Government; and, if it is proposed to deploy more than 12 personnel, a Dáil Resolution must also be approved.

The Lisbon Treaty includes a legally binding Protocol which recognises Ireland’s traditional policy of military neutrality.

Ireland’s commitment to the policy of military neutrality is complemented by a strong commitment to the United Nations and its work around the world. Irish troops participate in peacekeeping and, where necessary, peace enforcement. Our Defence Force personnel have a well-deserved, high reputation internationally for their contribution in this area which extends, unbroken, over more than fifty years.

The Government’s engagement in international security cooperation is aimed at ensuring public safety and is conducted with full respect for Irish sovereign decision-making authority and for Ireland’s long standing policy of military neutrality.