Petitions Committee publish final report on Irish Neutrality

The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions today published its “Report on Petition P00072/12 ‘Investigation into US Military and CIA use of Shannon Airport and Irish Airspace’ - Dr. Edward Horgan and Shannonwatch”.

1st February 2016

This report was conducted on foot of a public petition and allowed the Committee to address the broader issues of Irish neutrality.

Committee Chair, Pádraig MacLochlainn TD said: “This is an important report that raises a fundamental issue about Irish society – our neutrality. In compiling this report, the Committee travelled to Shannon airport to discuss its operation with senior management, we engaged with the petitioner and held discussions with Minister Charlie Flanagan TD, Minister Paschal Donoghue and the Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.”

“This report concludes that Ireland operates a policy of Military Neutrality, which is .characterised by “non-participation in military alliances” and that neutrality is not reflected in Bunreacht na hÉireann, or elsewhere in domestic legislation. The Committee recommends that Dáil and Seanad Éireann debate the matter with a view to the holding of a Referendum so that the will of the people can be determined.”

“This report is also an excellent example of how the public petitions process facilitates direct democracy and brings Parliament closer to the people. In fact, we recently published a report on the learnings from our first term and how they can be carried forward by the next Government.”

The report can be accessed here.

ENDS/

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Committee Membership

Chairman: Pádraig MacLochlainn, Sinn Féin

Deputies:

Richard Boyd-Barrett, Independent
Paul J Connaughton, Fine Gael
Pat Deering, Fine Gael
Michael Healy-Rae, Independent
Seamus Kirk, Fianna Fáil
Michael P. Kitt, Fianna Fáil
Mary Mitchell O’Connor, Fine Gael
Michelle Mulherin, Fine Gael
Derek Nolan (Vice-Chair), Labour
Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Sinn Féin
Sean Kenny, Labour
Anthony Lawlor, Fine Gael
John Halligan, Independent
Jack Wall, Labour

Senators:

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh, Sinn Féin
Tony Mulcahy, Fine Gael
Susan O’Keeffe, Labour
Ned O'Sullivan, Fianna Fáil