People Before Profit have accused the Government of involvement in an EU “militarisation project” that threatens Ireland’s long standing policy of military neutrality.
Dun Laoghaire TD, Richard Boyd Barrett, hit out at comments from the Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar, and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, last week where both said that Ireland was still “militarily” neutral.
Mr Boyd Barrett told the Irish Mirror: “We are very concerned that some of those in the Government that have long wished to abandon Irish military neutrality, and who have in effect done so by allowing Shannon Airport to be used by the US military, are essentially using the Ukraine crisis as an opportunity to move Ireland closer to the European militarisation project.”
PBP put an amendment to a Government motion calling for the Dáil’s support for Ukraine, urging that there is “no further military escalation” in Ukraine from either side.
They also called for a “recommittal to Irish military neutrality” in their amendment.
Mr Coveney hit back at Mr Boyd Barrett and others who claim our neutrality is being diluted when he spoke out and reiterated the government’s neutrality stance in the Dáil on Tuesday evening.
He said: “Ireland is militarily neutral, that is, we are not a member of a military alliance.
“But let me say clearly that we are not and never will be in the face of the military bombardment of cities, the targeting of civilian infrastructure, attempts to lay siege a city of three million men, women and children, people who have never asked for war and wish to only live in a democratic, peaceful, stable and free country and make their own sovereign decisions.”
