A war of words has taken place in Dáil Éireann between Tánaiste Micheál Martin and Laois Sinn Féin TD Brian Stanley.
Deputy Stanley called for Ireland’s longstanding position on neutrality to be protected and enshrined in our constitution.
“Our position on neutrality is long held. It is cherished and valued by the Irish public,” Deputy Stanley said.
“Neutrality has provided our State with credibility and impartiality to be a voice for peace and for de-escalation in cases of armed conflict.
“Any attempt to weaken our neutrality or drag Ireland towards a military alliance must be strongly opposed.
“I have not heard one convincing or valid argument for a change in the triple-lock system, but I have heard bogus ones.
“For such a significant change to our neutrality policy, I would expect to be presented with substantial evidence that there is some sort of urgent problem – Russia’s veto on the Security Council has been meekly suggested.”
However, Deputy Martin replied, saying this argument is “an out-of-touch ideological obsession.”
Deputy Stanley took umbrage with this remark, saying: “He has done a somersault now that he is swanning around Europe.
“What changed the Tánaiste’s mind since Fianna Fáil’s manifesto in 2020 in which it said it would protect the triple lock on neutrality?
“Whenever this matter is raised by militarists and the elite in this State, I am always suspicious of the motivation of those who propose ending neutrality.
“We all know it will not be the sons and daughters of the elite sent out to the front line to fight in conflicts. It will always be the working class who are sent to the front lines.
“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, in pushing this, having lied to the public during debates.
“I recall them. I took part in the referendum campaigns relating to the Nice and Lisbon treaties.
“We were told not to worry about neutrality, that we were scaremongering and that the triple-lock system would protect us. That convinced a lot of people.
“If those opposite recall, the Government of the day had to make two runs to get those referendums through.
Saying that we did not have to worry about neutrality is what convinced many Irish people to back the referendums. Now, it says they are being fooled.
“The Government is prepared to tell the Irish people tonight that it has fooled them.
“That is why we need an amendment to enshrine neutrality in our Constitution.”
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