asked the Taoiseach whether, in view of his statement in the Dáil on 8th July that there are countries that call themselves neutral but our neutrality is not of the same nature as theirs, he will state what the nature of our neutrality is.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Neutrality
2.
I would refer the Deputy to the reply I gave to a question on this subject on the 9th May, 1968 (Official Report of Dáil Éireann, Volume 234, No. 9 — columns 1278 to 1280).
Would the Taoiseach agree that his Government are deliberately de-emphasising neutrality in order to prepare the public mind for eventual entry into a group of States with a common foreign policy generally regarded as incompatible with neutrality?
I think I indicated to the Deputy a few days ago that we have no traditional policy of neutrality in this country like countries such as Sweden, Switzerland and Austria, who have declared themselves to have permanent policies of neutrality. Under the Constitution, we can make up our minds as to our neutrality in certain circumstances, and Dáil Éireann will decide in the light of the circumstances prevailing. If the Deputy wants me to spell out the circumstances I can.
I would be very grateful if the Taoiseach would spell out the circumstances.
I can say this. So far as we are concerned, if there is a question of neutrality in a situation involving, for example, a war between atheistic communism——
Or Nazism?
——and the way of life we know — freedom of the individual and the Christian way of life— then, in those circumstances, we in this Parliament, I believe, would not be neutral, nor would the people of Ireland permit us to be neutral.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
Arising out of the Taoiseach's reply——
We cannot have a debate on this. I have allowed two supplementaries.
As the Taoiseach has been so good as to answer this question in a certain amount of detail, perhaps I have a right to a supplementary on his statement. I should like to put him the question: would he not agree that neutrality in the ordinary acceptance of the word, means a refusal to enter into military commitments and does not necessarily mean indifference to the character of the internal regime of opposing groups of States, as appeared surely from Ireland's neutrality in the last war, when it could not be considered that Ireland was indifferent to the character of Nazism — at least I presume not?
Our neutrality in the last war was determined by our own circumstances rather than the existence of Nazism or anything else in any other country. It was determined by the division of our own country. May I read the answer to the question to which I referred? It was given by me on 9th May, 1968, in reply to a question put by the Deputy's colleague. It is to this effect:
The Constitution provides in Article 28.3.1º that war shall not be declared and that the State shall not participate in any war save with the assent of Dáil Éireann.
Our attitude to a war situation would fall to be determined as the necessity arises. As we are not members of any military alliance we are not committed in our attitude towards any future war. Any decision to become involved would, of course, pursuant to the Constitution, be subject to the assent of Dáil Éireann.
That is still the position.