Vol. 487 No. 5
17 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs whether Government policy on neutrality is to protect Irish military neutrality in the context of the European Union; and, if so, the way in which observer status at the Western European Union complies with this policy. [4316/98]
The Government's An Action Programme for the Millennium sets out as a key priority Ireland's "positive and constructive participation in the further building of Europe, taking account of our own specific traditions and interests". Ireland's policy of military neutrality is acknowledged and recognised by our EU partners, and is addressed in the Maastricht Treaty which provides that the common foreign and security policy of the European Union "shall not prejudice the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain Member States.". This provision has been retained in the Amsterdam Treaty.
Following the entry into force of the Maastricht Treaty, Ireland took up observer status at the Western European Union in the light of the relationship created between the EU and the Western European Union in that treaty. Ireland's observer status does not in any way compromise our policy of military neutrality. The Deputy will be aware that our three fellow neutral members of the EU, Austria, Finland and Sweden are, like Ireland, observers at the Western European Union.
