I thank Deputy Stanley for this very important motion. Our neutrality is not an accident of history. It is a conscious expression of our independence, sovereignty and belief that small nations can be a force for peace in the world. Our non-participation in foreign conflicts or military alliances has earned Ireland respect across the globe, but this reputation has been steadily undermined by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, which seem hell-bent on dismantling the triple lock and sending Irish men and women overseas to fight foreign wars. For years now, Shannon Airport has been used as a hub for the US military, facilitating the transport of armed troops and munitions to active war zones, including in the Middle East. This completely compromises our position of neutrality in the eyes of the world. We find ourselves in a staggering situation in which our own peacekeeping personnel are being sent from Baldonnel to serve with UNIFIL in Lebanon while, hot on their tails, US warplanes, permitted to use Shannon, are carrying the bombs that will be dropped by Israel around their base. That this is still being allowed shows complete disregard for our sovereignty and military neutrality. How can Ireland claim to stand for peace, diplomacy and international law, or speak with any moral authority to countries suffering the consequences of war, if we allow our neutrality to be hollowed out piece by piece? The triple lock is central to protecting that neutrality. It is a democratic safeguard and a guarantee to the Irish people. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael want to dismantle that protection without the consent of the people. Sinn Féin rejects that approach completely. We support strengthening our Defence Forces, but our defence policy must be rooted in independence, multilateralism and peacekeeping, not closer alignment with military alliances. If Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael truly believe the Irish people want to abandon neutrality, it should be put to the people in a referendum.

Sentiment score: 0.10