Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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52. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will commit to a referendum on enshrining neutrality in the Constitution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40654/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Our policy of military neutrality, as practised by successive Governments over many decades, means Ireland does not participate in military alliances or common or mutual defence arrangements.

As I have said in this House on many previous occasions, the Government has no plans to alter our long-standing policy of military neutrality, join a military alliance or enter into a mutual defence arrangement. As such, a referendum enshrining Ireland’s neutrality in the Constitution is not necessary or appropriate.

Furthermore, the Constitution already establishes the framework within which Ireland conducts its international relations. Article 29.1 provides that "Ireland affirms its devotion to the ideal of peace and friendly co-operation amongst nations founded on international justice and morality."

Article 29.4.9 sets out that the State “shall not adopt a decision taken by the European Council to establish a common defence pursuant to Article 42 of the Treaty on European Union where that common defence would include the State”.

In the context of an increasingly challenging international security environment, a referendum enshrining Ireland’s neutrality in the Constitution would significantly constrain the Executive’s ability to exercise its policy-making authority in respect of the conduct of external relations, as outlined in Article 29 of the Constitution.

Accordingly, the Government has no plans to bring forward legislation to hold a constitutional referendum on neutrality.