John Gormley
Question:24 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has promised a referendum on the question of our participation in Partnership for Peace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26373/98]
Written Answers. - Partnership for Peace.
John Gormley
Question:25 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is no longer opposed to our participation in the Partnership for Peace; and if he will make a statement on the matter.- [26372/98]
Proinsias De Rossa
Question:33 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the proposals, if any, he has for a public debate on whether Ireland should join Partnerships for Peace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27548/98]
Jim O'Keeffe
Question:47 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason there is continuing further delay in joining Partnership for Peace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27539/98]
Trevor Sargent
Question:48 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on the considerations, if any, he has given to Ireland joining Partnership for Peace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27299/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 25, 33, 47 and 48 together.
I refer the Deputies to my answer today to Priority Question No. 14 on the issue of Partnership for Peace, in which I set out my approach in a comprehensive manner.
With regard to the question of a referendum, raised in Deputy Gormley's question, I refer the Deputy to the detailed reply which I gave to him one week ago. In my answer, I recalled that the Government gave a commitment at the time of the debate on ratification of the Amsterdam Treaty that, if the issue of a departure from Ireland's military neutrality were to arise in the future, the issue would be put to the people for their decision in a referendum. I reiterate that commitment. I am committed to our policy of military neutrality, and I wish to make it quite clear that no departure from this policy is envisaged. I am quite satisfied that there is no conflict between participation in Partnership for Peace and our policy of military neutrality. Nonetheless, the opportunity of referring to the people, should the Government decide after listening to the debate that participation would be desirable, will arise in the course of the European Parliament election campaign next June, in which no doubt parties, including my own party, as well as our partners in Government, will have the opportunity to set out their approaches.