Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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382. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the person who is responsible for inviting four separate NATO-connected warships to visit Cork harbour in recent months; the reason that such invitations were issued; if these warships having been welcomed into Irish ports or allowed to use Ireland’s seas violates the Hague Convention on Neutrality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52044/22]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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383. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the State has ratified or signed the Hague Convention on Neutrality (V); the plans that exist for Ireland to come into full compliance with the Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52045/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 382 and 383 together.

Visits from foreign naval vessels are a long-standing and common practice in Ireland and worldwide. It is therefore normal and welcome for foreign naval vessels to visit Irish ports, whether that be to carry out joint training with the Irish Naval Service or simply to take crew rest. Port visits like those of recent months are also indicative of our desire for friendly relations with our neighbours and our desire for the Irish Naval Service to be equipped to communicate with other navies where necessary. The Irish Naval Service regularly visits foreign ports in the same manner. Foreign naval vessels are only granted permission to visit Irish ports on condition that they meet the necessary policy stipulations. In particular, these require that naval vessels visiting Irish ports do not carry nuclear weapons and do not engage in military exercises. These are the standard stipulations for any naval vessel to visit an Irish port.

Ireland’s longstanding policy of neutrality is characterised by non-membership of military alliances and means that we do not participate in common or mutual defence arrangements. As I have noted previously, our policy of military neutrality continues to inform our active approach towards peace support operations and crisis management, and our contributions to conflict resolution and peacebuilding. Ireland is not a party to the Hague Convention (V) respecting the Rights and Duties of Neutral Powers and Persons in Case of War on Land, and there are no plans for it to become one. Incorporation of its provisions into domestic law accordingly does not arise.