Defence Policy: Motion (Resumed)

On Wednesday, 11 March 1981 the following motion was moved by the Taoiseach:

That Dáil Éireann confirms the principles which have guided the defence policy of the Government and their predecessors.

Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following:

"Dáil Éireann reaffirms the principle of the neutrality of Ireland in international affairs and declares that our foreign and defence policies will continue to be based on this principle."

—(Deputy Cluskey.)

—And on amendment No. 2:

To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following:

"Dáil Éireann recognising the new needs of our times and in accordance with our traditional policy of neutrality now resolve to establish without doubt the reality of this neutrality and further in order to strengthen the forces of peace resolve to seek membership of the Non-Aligned Nations of the world."

—(Deputy Dr. Browne.)

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I am putting the question on amendments Nos. 1 and 2. The question is: "That the words proposed to be deleted stand."

The Taoiseach

I am not clear on the procedure.

Mr. L'Estrange

I am asking for a quorum.

An Leas-Cheann Comhairle

I have already put the question. Deputies cannot call for a quorum when the Chair has put the question. The position is that amendments Nos. 1 and 2 are being taken together as both amendments propose to delete the same words.

Question put. "That the words proposed to be deleted stand."

The Dáil divided: Tá, 62; Níl, 46.

Tá

Ahern, Bertie.
Ahern, Kit.
Allen, Lorcan.
Andrews, David.
Andrews, Niall.
Aylward, Liam.
Barrett, Sylvester.
Brady, Gerard.
Brady, Vincent.
Briscoe, Ben.
Browne, Seán.
Burke, Raphael P.
Callanan, John.
Calleary, Seán.
Cogan, Barry.
Colley, George.
Conaghan, Hugh.
Connolly, Gerard.
Crinion, Brendan.
Daly, Brendan.
Doherty, Seán.
Fahey, Jackie.
Farrell, Joe.
Filgate, Eddie.
Fitzgerald, Gene.
Fitzpatrick, Tom. (Dublin South-Central).
Fitzsimons, James N.
Flynn, Pádraig.
Fox, Christopher J.
French, Seán.
Gallagher, Dennis.
Geoghegan-Quinn, Máire.
Haughey, Charles J.
Herbert, Michael.
Keegan, Seán.
Kenneally, William.
Killeen, Tim.
Killilea, Mark.
Lawlor, Liam.
Lemass, Eileen.
Lenihan, Brian.
Leonard, Tom.
Leyden, Terry.
McCreevy, Charlie.
McEllistrim, Thomas.
McSharry, Ray.
Molloy, Robert.
Moore, Seán.
Morley, P.J.
Murphy, Ciarán P.
Noonan, Michael.
O'Connor, Timothy C.
O'Donoghue, Martin.
O'Hanlon, Rory.
Power, Paddy.
Reynolds, Albert.
Smith, Michael.
Tunney, Jim.
Walsh, Seán.
Wilson, John P.
Woods, Michael J.
Wyse, Pearse.

Níl

Barry, Myra.
Barry, Peter.
Begley, Michael.
Belton, Luke.
Bermingham, Joseph.
Boland, John.
Browne, Noel.
Bruton, John.
Burke, Joan.
Byrne, Hugh.
Enright, Thomas W.
FitzGerald, Garret.
Fitzpatrick, Tom. (Cavan-Monaghan).
Flanagan, Oliver J.
Gilhawley, Eugene.
Griffin, Brendan.
Harte, Patrick D.
Hegarty, Paddy.
Horgan, John.
Keating, Michael.
Kelly, John.
L'Estrange, Gerry.
McMahon, Larry.
Cluskey, Frank.
Collins, Edward.
Corish, Brendan.
Cosgrave, Liam.
Cosgrave, Michael J.
Crotty, Kieran.
D'Arcy, Michael J.
Deasy, Martin A.
Desmond, Barry.
Donnellan, John F.
Mannion, John M.
Mitchell, Jim.
Murphy, Michael P.
O'Brien, William.
O'Keeffe, Jim.
O'Toole, Paddy.
Quinn, Ruairi.
Ryan, John J.
Spring, Dan.
Taylor, Frank.
Timmins, Godfrey.
Tully, James.
White, James.

Tellers: Tá, Deputies Moore and Briscoe; Níl, Deputies L'Estrange and B. Desmond.

Question declared carried.

Mr. P. Barry

Where are the soldiers now?

Dr. FitzGerald

I move amendment No. 3:

After "predecessors" to add the following:

"and confirms that a defence pact with the United Kingdom has not been mentioned in the current discussions with the UK Government and that it is not part of the joint studies now under way".

Amendment put.

The Dáil divided: Tá, 46; Níl, 62.

Tá

Barry, Myra.
Barry, Peter.
Barry, Richard.
Begley, Michael.
Belton, Luke.
Bermingham, Joseph.
Boland, John.
Browne, Noel.
Bruton, John.
Burke, Joan.
Byrne, Hugh.
Cluskey, Frank.
Collins, Edward.
Corish, Brendan.
Cosgrave, Liam.
Cosgrave, Michael J.
Crotty, Kieran.
D'Arcy, Michael J.
Deasy, Martin A.
Donnellan, John F.
Enright, Thomas W.
FitzGerald, Garret.
Fitzpatrick, Tom. (Cavan-Monaghan).
Flanagan, Oliver J.
Gilhawley, Eugene.
Griffin, Brendan.
Harte, Patrick D.
Hegarty, Paddy.
Horgan, John.
Keating, Michael.
Kelly, John.
L'Estrange, Gerry.
McMahon, Larry.
Mannion, John M.
Mitchell, Jim.
Murphy, Michael P.
O'Brien, William.
O'Keeffe, Jim.
O'Toole, Paddy.
Quinn, Ruairi.
Ryan, John J.
Spring, Dan.
Taylor, Frank
Timmins, Godfrey.
Tully, James.
White, James.

Tellers: Tá, Deputies L'Estrange and Horgan: Níl, Deputies Moore and Briscoe.

Ahern, Bertie.
Ahern, Kit.
Allen, Lorcan.
Andrews, David.
Andrews, Niall.
Aylward, Liam.
Barrett, Sylvester.
Brady, Gerard.
Brady, Vincent.
Briscoe, Ben.
Browne, Seán.
Burke, Raphael P.
Callanan, John.
Calleary, Seán.
Cogan, Barry.
Colley, George.
Conaghan, Hugh.
Connolly, Gerard.
Daly, Brendan.
Doherty, Seán.
Fahey, Jackie.
Farrell, Joe.
Filgate, Eddie.
Fitzgerald, Gene.
Fitzpatrick, Tom. (Dublin South-Central).
Fitzsimons, James N.
Flynn, Pádraig.
Fox, Christopher J.
French, Seán.
Gallagher, Dennis.
Geoghegan-Quinn, Máire.
Haughey, Charles J.
Herbert, Michael.
Keegan, Seán.
Kenneally, William.
Killeen, Tim.
Killilea, Mark.
Lemass, Eileen.
Lenihan, Brian.
Leonard, Tom.
Leyden, Terry.
McCreevy, Charlie.
McEllistrim, Thomas.
MacSharry, Ray.
Molloy, Robert.
Moore, Seán.
Morley, P.J.
Murphy, Ciarán P.
Noonan, Michael.
O'Connor, Timothy C.
O'Donoghue, Martin.
O'Hanlon, Rory.
Power, Paddy.
Reynolds, Albert.
Smith, Michael.
Tunney, Jim.
Walsh, Seán.
Wilson, John P.
Woods, Michael J.
Wyse, Pearse.

Tellers: Tá, Deputies Moore and Briscoe; Níl, Deputies L'Estrange and Horgan.

Amendment declared lost.

Ní

Ahern, Bertie.Ahern, Kit.Allen, Lorcan.Andrews, David.Andrews, Niall.Aylward, Liam.Barrett, Sylvester.Brady, Gerard. Conaghan, Hugh.Connolly, Gerard.Crinion, Brendan.Daly, Brendan.Doherty, Seán.Fahey, Jackie.Farrell, Joe.Filgate, Eddie.Fitzgerald, Gene.Fitzpatrick, Tom. (Dublin South-Central).Fitzsimons, James N.Flynn, Pádraig.Fox, Christopher J.French, Seán.Gallagher, Dennis.Geoghegan-Quinn, Máire.Haughey, Charles J.Herbert, Michael.Keegan, Seán.Kenneally, William.Killeen, Tim.Killilea, Mark.Lawlor, Liam.

Brady, Vincent.Briscoe, BenBrowne, Seán.Burke, Raphael P.Callanan, John.Calleary, Seán.Cogan, Barry.Colley, George. Lemass, Eileen.Lenihan, Brian.Leonard, Tom.Leyden, Terry.McCreevy, Charlie.McEllistrim, Thomas.McSharry, Ray.Molloy, Robert.Moore, Seán.Morley, P. J.Murphy, Ciarán P.Noonan, Michael.O'Connor, Timothy C.O'Donoghue, Martin.O'Hanlon, Rory.Power, Paddy.Reynolds, Albert.Smith, Michael.Tunney, Jim.Walsh, Seán.Wilson, John P.Woods, Michael J.Wyse, Pearse.

Question put: "That the motion be agreed."

The Dáil divided: Tá, 60; Níl, 46.

Tá

Barry, Myra.
Barry,Peter.
Barry, Richard.
Begley, Michael.
Belton, Luke.
Bermingham, Joseph.
Boland, John.
Browne, Noel.
Bruton, John.
Burke, Joan.
Byrne, Hugh.
Cluskey, Frank.
Collins, Edward.
Corish, Brendan.
Cosgrave, Liam.
Cosgrave, Michael J.
Crotty, Kieran.
D'Arcy, Michael J.
Deasy, Martin A.
Donnellan, John F.
Enright, Thomas W.
FitzGerald, Garret.
Fitzpatrick, Tom. (Cavan-Monaghan).
Flanagan, Oliver J.
Gilhawley, Eugene.
Griffin, Brendan.
Harte, Patrick D.
Hegarty, Paddy.
Horgan, John.
Keating, Michael.
Kelly, John.
L'Estrange, Gerry.
McMahon, Larry.
Mannion, John M.
Mitchell, Jim.
Murphy, Michael P.
O'Brien, William.
O'Keeffe, Jim.
O'Toole, Paddy.
Quinn, Ruairi.
Ryan, John J.
Spring, Dan.
Taylor, Frank.
Timmins, Godfrey.
Tully, James.
White, James.

Níl

Question declared carried.

Mr. T.J. Fitzpatrick

(Cavan-Monaghan): A shameful episode has been brought to a conclusion. The Government should be ashamed of themselves. I hope it has not damaged the structure or the institutions of the House.

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht - Thursday, 12 Mar 1981