Independent TD Mattie McGrath has told the Dáil that since the outbreak of the Ukraine war, Ireland has “diminished, damaged and almost destroyed” its neutrality and its record.
He was speaking on Wednesday as government Ministers debated a Private Member’s motion on Irish neutrality, moved by Independent TD Catherine Connolly. The motion calls on the Government to affirm and reiterate Ireland’s “steadfast” commitment to neutrality, and to initiate legislation for the purposes of holding a referendum to enshrine neutrality in the Irish Constitution.
The motion also seeks to maintain and strengthen Ireland’s role as a “responsible, non-aligned and impartial nation, promoting peace, stability and diplomacy on the global stage.” Deputy Connolly also outlined how the motion would mean working “to raise awareness of the importance of neutrality and its contribution to global peace.”
In addition, she noted it would “ensure the inspection of civilian and military planes travelling through Irish airports to verify that they are lawful.”
Opposing the motion, and forwarding amendments, Tánaiste Micheál Marti pledged to consider whether to bring concrete recommendations to the Government by way of possible follow-up.
“The Government will hold an early debate in the Oireachtas on the issues involved,” he said.
The motion comes just months after a debate was opened on the future of our military neutrality – with a consultative forum on neutrality opened in May by An Tánaiste, Micheál Martin. Mr Martin has said that Ireland must have an “open and honest” debate on its longstanding policy of military neutrality and the possibility of joining Nato.
Mr Martin stressed that neutrality was not a “simplistic binary choice,” while expressing hopes that the forum would “provide a space to discuss what other security policy choices may exist for our island, as well as our responsibilities towards other partners.”
“We will discuss what our current policy of military neutrality means, whether it is fit for purpose in the current global security environment and whether we need to define more clearly what we do, and do not, mean by military neutrality,” Mr Martin told the Dáil in May, raising some concerns over the future of Ireland’s historic military neutrality, which predates the second world war, and means our defence spending is significantly lower than other EU nations.
Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath, supporting the motion on Tuesday, described it as “very important” – while lambasting how Ireland has “almost destroyed” its neutrality.
“We have had this debate previously and the Minister of State got annoyed with me,” he told the Dáil.
“The Tánaiste has said our neutrality is an outdated concept. Imagine; as if he had not done enough damage to this country, he now wants to damage our neutrality,” Deputy McGrath said.
“I salute the peacekeepers who have gone out. I think of those who were in Jadotville and the battle there and what Deputy Micheál Martin promised them before he was in power. Now he will not even meet with them. These are the men who are the survivors and they cannot get the recognition. I see now they are getting recognition from Australia and the Australian Parliament.”
He went on to tell TDs that “our neutrality is so important to us here” and that “our Irish passport is important to us here.”
“Everything Irish is so important to us and we are entitled to have that,” he said, before going on to criticise the flying of the Ukrainian flag outside Dail Eireann.
“We can punch above our weight if we have the clean image of being neutral and not send out bombs and not have a Ukrainian flag flying out here beside the Tricolour, which I believe is scandalous and undermines our neutrality,” Deputy McGrath said.
“It is time we copped on to ourselves now. I was leaving the Houses at dusk and saw the military police – as they do – taking down the Tricolour flag and the Ukrainian flag. The Ukrainian flag goes up and down every day as if it were as important as our own Tricolour.”
‘IRELAND IS TAGGING ALONG TO BE THE NICE GUYS’
“We need to cop ourselves on here. We need the Tánaiste to go out and tell Ursula von der Leyen that she cannot make those comments she made,” he added.
The Independent politician claimed that the EU “just wants to warmonger and Ireland is tagging along to be the nice guys.”
He continued: “I heard the Taoiseach speaking in the Chamber yesterday when he told an Teachta McDonald how she has to learn about what happens in diplomacy when dealing 27 member states.
“We, however, stand for ourselves. We stand for Ireland and its proud people. We are proud of our soldiers, those who went out and are now going out and down into bunkers. I hope they come back safe. Some are from my own village in Tipperary. We have a proud record of service as a neutral country.”
Deputy McGrath went on to criticise Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, Micheál Martin, who in May announced the opening of the consultative forum on Irish neutrality, after the Ukraine war and security concerns sparked a discussion about Ireland’s possibly joining Nato. Mr McGrath argued that Ireland should “stand by” its long-standing tradition of neutrality.
“The Tánaiste has the idea that our neutrality is outdated,” Deputy McGrath said. “He had a roadshow going around and he got his answer. “He went to four venues to try to get the people ready, like a citizens’ assembly event. He tried to ready up the people for a change here, like he is the man who will completely change everything. Stand by our neutrality. It has done us well.”
Speaking at yesterday’s debate, Mr Martin said that he had “been a member of successive governments that have never changed our policy of military neutrality despite all of the allegations and accusations levelled. “
“Today’s debate on neutrality provides us with an important opportunity to clarify what Ireland’s policy of military neutrality does, and does not, actually mean,” the Tánaiste said.
Mr Martin said the government has “no plans” to alter its policy on neutrality, telling TDs:
“In Ireland’s case, our policy of military neutrality as practised by successive Governments over many decades means that Ireland does not participate in military alliances or common or mutual defence arrangements. Let me be very clear on this. This Government has no plans to alter this policy. “
“It is not part of the Government’s agenda and it is not in the programme for Government. I have been a member of successive governments that have never changed our policy of military neutrality despite all of the allegations and accusations levelled,” he continued.
“However, it goes without saying that military neutrality does not mean we either wish to, or can, isolate ourselves from the challenging security environment we find ourselves in today. Nor does it mean we can ignore our responsibilities towards our own citizens or other international partners.”
Mr Martin went on to say that the motion presented “real risks” – adding that the government would have “real concerns” about the proposal to hold a referendum to enshrine neutrality in the Constitution.
“We do not believe this would be an appropriate or responsible course of action. We are fundamentally a parliamentary democracy. What definition of neutrality are people suggesting should go into the Constitution?” he asked.
“The policy of military neutrality has always been, and remains, a deliberate policy choice on the part of successive governments since the Second World War. I have already said that the Government has no intention to alter this policy. The consultative forum reflects the esteem and respect for this policy. This does not mean that we cannot and should not continue to discuss our international security policy and challenges, and the choices we face.”
He went on to ask: “Why would we wish to prevent a current or future Irish government from using the full range of instruments and tools at its disposal, either bilaterally or through the European Union?” asking “whose interests does this serve.”
He said that while we need to retain our right to chart an independent course of action, “this cannot be at the expense of maintaining the vital network of bilateral and multilateral partnerships, particularly as an EU member state, that we currently enjoy.”
“These relationships, and the flexibility needed to maintain them within our policy of military neutrality, help to keep our country safe and our people secure.”
Deputy Michael McNamara, meanwhile, spoke on behalf of the motion and against the government’s amendment.
“I listened very carefully to what the Tánaiste had to say before he quickly departed the Chamber,” the Independent TD said.
“It seems to me that he has offered no reason whatsoever as to why the Government is not prepared to even accept Ireland’s traditional position of neutrality and encapsulate that in the countermotion, as Deputy Connolly pointed out. It is almost as if we are embarrassed by Ireland’s history of neutrality.”
Deputy McNamara said “we want to be part of the club” when it comes to aligning with certain countries.
“The Tánaiste is obsessed with being part of the club and people see that. That is why it is important to constrain the Executive because we might have as weak a Tánaiste again in future who is so desperate to curry favour with his partners, as we call them.
“The Ceann Comhairle used the word “ally” when introducing Zelenskyy which I found a very inappropriate word to use in the circumstances. We may sympathise with him, but that does not make him an ally,” the Clare TD said.
‘NEUTRALITY OF HUGE VALUE’
Deputy Micahel Collins, meanwhile, said that “our neutrality is of huge value to this country” as he blasted Ministers for “questioning it and kicking it around as if it is a political football.”
“It is not a political football. It is of utmost importance to this country,” he said.
“Ireland is in a very difficult position if we are going to take on the world with our viewpoints and our senior ministerial viewpoints,” the Independent said. “We must work towards peace. There is a very upset world out there that is heading to a world war, as somebody said to me recently.
“Instead of us being at the forefront where we can be for peace in our country, we are now starting to take sides and starting to stoke up unrest in parts of the world where we should not be.”
He said it was “time to step back” and that the “majority of people of this country want us to stay neutral.”
“This is the majority in the polls. I am quite proud to think we are living in a country that is neutral, but we need to work on this neutrality. We must work with the bad people out there as well as the good people to try to see if we can marry them together and create peace in this world, peace in Gaza and peace in Ukraine. We must not be seen to take sides and cause more conflict and anger,” he added.
The Dáil divided on the government’s amendment to the motion, with 77 TDs voting in favour, and 56 voting against.