The Minister for Defence Micheál Martin has said a referendum enshrining Ireland’s neutrality in the Constitution is not necessary or appropriate.
As part of a written parliamentary reply on the matter he stated his belief that the Constitution already establishes the framework within which Ireland conducts its international relations, while Article 29.1 provides that “Ireland affirms its devotion to the ideal of peace and friendly co-operation amongst nations founded on international justice and morality.”
Mr Matin further noted that Article 29.4.9 sets out that the State “shall not adopt a decision taken by the European Council to establish a common defence pursuant to Article 42 of the Treaty on European Union where that common defence would include the State”.
He also expressed a view that in the context of an increasingly challenging international security environment, “a referendum enshrining Ireland’s neutrality in the Constitution would significantly constrain the Executive’s ability to exercise its policy-making authority in respect of the conduct of external relations.”
Accordingly, he said, “the Government has no plans to bring forward legislation to hold a constitutional referendum on neutrality.”
Concluding his reply, the minister he wanted to once again underline that while there are no plans to change our policy of military neutrality, “we must be cognisant of the changed geopolitical context and wider threat environment in Europe. For this reason, the Government is committed to broadening and deepening Ireland’s international security engagement as well as our domestic efforts to ensure the security of our country.”