Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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50. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his views on whether NATO warships carrying out drills with the Naval Service compromises Irish neutrality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59245/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I wish to reassure the Deputy and the House, that foreign naval vessels visiting Irish Ports 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 a communication exercise with the Irish Naval Service outside Irish territorial waters, or simply to take crew rest. Indeed 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.