Neutrality: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members]

The following motion was moved by Deputy Catherine Connolly on Wednesday, 25 October 2023:

That Dáil Éireann:

notes:

— that Article 29.1 of Bunreacht na hÉireann states "Ireland affirms its devotion to the ideal of peace and friendly co-operation amongst nations founded on international justice and morality";

— that Article 29.2 of Bunreacht na hÉireann states "Ireland affirms its adherence to the principle of the pacific settlement of international disputes by international arbitration or judicial determination";

— that Article 29.4.9o of Bunreacht na hÉireann states "The State shall not adopt a decision taken by the European Council to establish a common defence pursuant to Article 42 of the Treaty on European Union where that common defence would include the State";

— that Article 28.3.1o of Bunreacht na hÉireann states "War shall not be declared and the State shall not participate in any war save with the assent of Dáil Éireann";

— that the "triple lock" reinforces Ireland's policy of neutrality and ensures that Ireland will not engage in military actions inconsistent with our neutral status, that through its requirement of United Nations (UN) approval for military deployments it ensures that Ireland adheres to the principles of international law and demonstrates a commitment to resolving conflicts through peaceful and diplomatic means, and that it ensures that decisions to commit Irish troops to military operations are made democratically and transparently;

— the declaration of neutrality referring to "Ireland's long-established policy of military neutrality" was lodged along with the Single European Act's ratification instrument;

— that the Maastricht Treaty states that the treaty "shall not prejudice the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain Member States";

— the Seville Declaration inserted into the Treaty of Nice, to facilitate the holding of a second referendum on the matter and the insertion of Article 29.9 into Bunreacht na hÉireann that the State would not take part in any EU common defence arrangement;

— the Irish Guarantee on the Lisbon Treaty which sets out that Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality will be unaffected, and which guarantee facilitated the holding of a second referendum on the matter;

— that repeated polls confirm the unwavering support of the majority of Irish people to Irish neutrality, and the most recent Irish Times/Ipsos poll, June 2023, found that 61 per cent of people surveyed favour the retention of our current model of neutrality; and

— the judgment of the High Court in Horgan v An Taoiseach [2003] IEHC 64 highlighting "the great historic value attached by Ireland to the concept of neutrality";

further notes:

— an estimate of at least 3.5 million US troops, along with onboard weapons, have passed through Shannon Airport since 2001;

— the exponential growth in European Union (EU) military spending and the commitment by EU member states to increase defence expenditure by €70 billion by 2025, bringing the annual EU spend on military and weapons technology to €284 billion per year;

— the devastating and catastrophic consequences of the war industry on climate change; and

— the involvement of Defence Forces' personnel in rifle weapons training of Ukrainian military personnel under the EU Military Assistance Mission Ukraine;

acknowledges:

— not being part of a military alliance remains a central part and fundamental pillar of our foreign policy since the foundation of the State;

— the long and proud tradition of Irish neutrality and its historical significance;

— Frank Aiken's commitment to the promotion of disarmament and peaceful conflict resolution on the international stage through his work at the UN and the subsequent successful adoption of the Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1970;

— Ireland's record of peacekeeping around the world and the significant role our neutrality plays in enhancing our international reputation as a peacekeeping and non-aligned nation;

— that our policy of neutrality has earned respect for Ireland among the international community and entitled us to engage internationally in diplomatic efforts, to promote peace and to contribute to conflict resolution as a trusted mediator and facilitator;

— that neutrality necessitates active investment in peaceful solutions and conflict resolution and requires the allocation of resources towards the improvement of public services by investing in healthcare, education, infrastructure, and climate action, rather than in military expenditure; and

— at a time of increased instability in the world, now more than ever is the time for Ireland to use our role as a neutral country to facilitate the peaceful resolution of conflicts;

and calls on the Government to:

— affirm and reiterate our steadfast commitment to neutrality;

— initiate legislation for the purposes of holding a referendum enshrining neutrality in our Constitution;

— maintain and strengthen our role as a responsible, non-aligned and impartial nation, promoting peace, stability and diplomacy on the global stage;

— continue to support international peacekeeping efforts, diplomatic negotiations and humanitarian initiatives in alignment with the principles of neutrality;

— work to raise awareness of the importance of neutrality and its contribution to global peace;

— ensure the inspection of civilian and military planes travelling through Irish airports to verify that they are lawful, including in accordance with SI No. 224/1973 – Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order, 1973;

— properly fund and resource our Defence Forces; and

— confirm and ensure that Irish Defence Forces' personnel are not, and will not be, involved in lethal weapons training of foreign military forces.

Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following:

"notes that:

— Ireland's policy of active military neutrality and non-membership of military alliances, as per the Programme for Government: Our Shared Future;

— Ireland has a longstanding commitment to contributing to the maintenance of international peace and security, as enshrined in the United Nations (UN) Charter;

— Ireland's policy of military neutrality is an important strand of our foreign policy and is characterised by non-membership of military alliances or common or mutual defence arrangements;

— as practised by successive Governments, our foreign policy is informed by an active approach towards peace support operations and crisis management, our contributions to conflict resolution and peacebuilding, our work for human rights and development, and our efforts to promote disarmament and the elimination of weapons of mass destruction;

— Ireland has a long tradition of international engagement, including through participation in UN and UN-mandated, European Union (EU)-led peacekeeping missions;

— Ireland supports a strong EU role in supporting the maintenance of international peace and security and engages actively in the European Union's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), including, since 2017, through the EU's Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO);

— the Government convened a Consultative Forum on International Security Policy from 22nd-26th June, 2023, with a view to building public understanding and generating discussions on Ireland's foreign, security and defence policies;

— the Chairperson of this Consultative Forum, Louise Richardson DBE, recently submitted a report of these discussions and the associated consultation process, to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, Micheál Martin TD;

— this report was brought to Government and subsequently published online on 17th October;

— this report highlights the pride in Ireland's role in the world in peacekeeping and peacebuilding, as well as a broad consensus on the importance of continued international engagement, particularly in the UN and the EU contexts; and

— this report also demonstrates a clear recognition that Ireland faces new and emerging threats, including in cyberspace and in the maritime domain, and the value of working with EU and like-minded partners in these and other areas;

recognises that:

— the Government reaffirms its commitment to a policy of military neutrality and reiterates that it has no plans to join a military alliance or enter into a mutual defence arrangement;

— the Government does not believe a referendum enshrining neutrality in the Constitution is appropriate;

— the multilateral system – with the UN Charter at its heart – remains our strongest protection and the State’s most important security asset;

— Russia's brutal and illegal invasion of Ukraine, blatantly violating the UN Charter and international law, has nevertheless fundamentally changed the geopolitical and security landscape in Europe;

— in its wake, countries all over Europe have examined their foreign, security and defence policies;

— as a highly globalised country, Ireland cannot rely on our geographic isolation for our security, nor isolate ourselves from world events; and

— in this context, the Tánaiste is currently reviewing the report on the Consultative Forum and considering its conclusions; and

further notes that the Government:

— is committed to a Dáil debate on the outcome of the Consultative Forum, including on the Chairperson's report, and on possible next steps, without delay; and

— will consider in this light whether to bring forward a set of specific follow-up actions and policy recommendations, building on the report of the Forum, and focusing in particular on opportunities for ongoing multilateral and international engagement, further capability development and investment in the Defence Forces, and steps to tackle new and emerging threats, including through engagement at the UN and EU level.".

- (Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs)

An Ceann Comhairle

I must now deal with a postponed division relating to the motion regarding neutrality. On Wednesday, 25 October 2023, on the question, "That the amendment to the motion be agreed to", a division was claimed and in accordance with Standing Order 80(2), that division must be taken now.

Amendment put:

The Dáil divided: Tá, 77; Níl, 56; Staon, 0.

Tá

Browne, James.
Bruton, Richard.
Burke, Colm.
Burke, Peter.
Butler, Mary.
Byrne, Thomas.
Cahill, Jackie.
Calleary, Dara.
Cannon, Ciarán.
Carroll MacNeill, Jennifer.
Chambers, Jack.
Collins, Niall.
Costello, Patrick.
Coveney, Simon.
Cowen, Barry.
Creed, Michael.
Crowe, Cathal.
Devlin, Cormac.
Dillon, Alan.
Donnelly, Stephen.
Donohoe, Paschal.
Duffy, Francis Noel.
Durkan, Bernard J.
Farrell, Alan.
Feighan, Frankie.
Fitzpatrick, Peter.
Flaherty, Joe.
Flanagan, Charles.
Fleming, Sean.
Foley, Norma.
Griffin, Brendan.
Harris, Simon.
Haughey, Seán.
Heydon, Martin.
Higgins, Emer.
Humphreys, Heather.
Kehoe, Paul.
Lahart, John.
Lawless, James.
Leddin, Brian.
Lowry, Michael.
MacSharry, Marc.
Madigan, Josepha.
Martin, Catherine.
Martin, Micheál.
Matthews, Steven.
McAuliffe, Paul.
McConalogue, Charlie.
McEntee, Helen.
McGrath, Michael.
McHugh, Joe.
Moynihan, Michael.
Murnane O'Connor, Jennifer.
Murphy, Verona.
Naughton, Hildegarde.
Noonan, Malcolm.
O'Brien, Darragh.
O'Brien, Joe.
O'Callaghan, Jim.
O'Connor, James.
O'Dea, Willie.
O'Donovan, Patrick.
O'Dowd, Fergus.
O'Gorman, Roderic.
O'Sullivan, Christopher.
O'Sullivan, Pádraig.
Ó Cathasaigh, Marc.
Ó Cuív, Éamon.
Phelan, John Paul.
Rabbitte, Anne.
Richmond, Neale.
Ring, Michael.
Ryan, Eamon.
Shanahan, Matt.
Smith, Brendan.
Stanton, David.
Troy, Robert.

Níl

Bacik, Ivana.
Barry, Mick.
Brady, John.
Browne, Martin.
Buckley, Pat.
Cairns, Holly.
Carthy, Matt.
Clarke, Sorca.
Collins, Michael.
Connolly, Catherine.
Conway-Walsh, Rose.
Cronin, Réada.
Crowe, Seán.
Cullinane, David.
Daly, Pa.
Doherty, Pearse.
Donnelly, Paul.
Ellis, Dessie.
Farrell, Mairéad.
Gannon, Gary.
Guirke, Johnny.
Harkin, Marian.
Healy-Rae, Danny.
Healy-Rae, Michael.
Howlin, Brendan.
Kenny, Gino.
Kenny, Martin.
Kerrane, Claire.
Mac Lochlainn, Pádraig.
McGrath, Mattie.
McNamara, Michael.
Munster, Imelda.
Murphy, Catherine.
Mythen, Johnny.
Nolan, Carol.
O'Callaghan, Cian.
O'Donoghue, Richard.
O'Reilly, Louise.
O'Rourke, Darren.
Ó Broin, Eoin.
Ó Laoghaire, Donnchadh.
Ó Murchú, Ruairí.
Ó Ríordáin, Aodhán.
Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
Pringle, Thomas.
Quinlivan, Maurice.
Sherlock, Sean.
Shortall, Róisín.
Smith, Bríd.
Smith, Duncan.
Stanley, Brian.
Tóibín, Peadar.
Tully, Pauline.
Ward, Mark.
Whitmore, Jennifer.
Wynne, Violet-Anne.

Staon

Tellers: Tá, Deputies Hildegarde Naughton and Cormac Devlin; Níl, Deputies Catherine Connolly and Thomas Pringle.

Amendment declared carried.

Question put: "That the motion, as amended, be agreed to."

The Dáil divided: Tá, 76; Níl, 56; Staon, 0.

Tá

Browne, James.
Bruton, Richard.
Burke, Colm.
Burke, Peter.
Butler, Mary.
Byrne, Thomas.
Cahill, Jackie.
Calleary, Dara.
Cannon, Ciarán.
Carroll MacNeill, Jennifer.
Chambers, Jack.
Collins, Niall.
Costello, Patrick.
Coveney, Simon.
Cowen, Barry.
Creed, Michael.
Crowe, Cathal.
Devlin, Cormac.
Dillon, Alan.
Donnelly, Stephen.
Donohoe, Paschal.
Duffy, Francis Noel.
Durkan, Bernard J.
Farrell, Alan.
Feighan, Frankie.
Fitzpatrick, Peter.
Flaherty, Joe.
Flanagan, Charles.
Fleming, Sean.
Foley, Norma.
Griffin, Brendan.
Harris, Simon.
Haughey, Seán.
Heydon, Martin.
Higgins, Emer.
Humphreys, Heather.
Kehoe, Paul.
Lahart, John.
Lawless, James.
Leddin, Brian.
Lowry, Michael.
MacSharry, Marc.
Madigan, Josepha.
Martin, Catherine.
Martin, Micheál.
Matthews, Steven.
McAuliffe, Paul.
McEntee, Helen.
McGrath, Michael.
McHugh, Joe.
Moynihan, Michael.
Murnane O'Connor, Jennifer.
Murphy, Verona.
Naughton, Hildegarde.
Noonan, Malcolm.
O'Brien, Darragh.
O'Brien, Joe.
O'Callaghan, Jim.
O'Connor, James.
O'Dea, Willie.
O'Donovan, Patrick.
O'Dowd, Fergus.
O'Gorman, Roderic.
O'Sullivan, Christopher.
O'Sullivan, Pádraig.
Ó Cathasaigh, Marc.
Ó Cuív, Éamon.
Phelan, John Paul.
Rabbitte, Anne.
Richmond, Neale.
Ring, Michael.
Ryan, Eamon.
Shanahan, Matt.
Smith, Brendan.
Stanton, David.
Troy, Robert.

Níl

Bacik, Ivana.
Barry, Mick.
Brady, John.
Browne, Martin.
Buckley, Pat.
Cairns, Holly.
Carthy, Matt.
Clarke, Sorca.
Collins, Michael.
Connolly, Catherine.
Conway-Walsh, Rose.
Cronin, Réada.
Crowe, Seán.
Cullinane, David.
Daly, Pa.
Doherty, Pearse.
Donnelly, Paul.
Ellis, Dessie.
Farrell, Mairéad.
Gannon, Gary.
Guirke, Johnny.
Harkin, Marian.
Healy-Rae, Danny.
Healy-Rae, Michael.
Howlin, Brendan.
Kenny, Gino.
Kenny, Martin.
Kerrane, Claire.
Mac Lochlainn, Pádraig.
McGrath, Mattie.
McNamara, Michael.
Munster, Imelda.
Murphy, Catherine.
Mythen, Johnny.
Nolan, Carol.
O'Callaghan, Cian.
O'Donoghue, Richard.
O'Reilly, Louise.
O'Rourke, Darren.
Ó Broin, Eoin.
Ó Laoghaire, Donnchadh.
Ó Murchú, Ruairí.
Ó Ríordáin, Aodhán.
Ó Snodaigh, Aengus.
Pringle, Thomas.
Quinlivan, Maurice.
Sherlock, Sean.
Shortall, Róisín.
Smith, Bríd.
Smith, Duncan.
Stanley, Brian.
Tóibín, Peadar.
Tully, Pauline.
Ward, Mark.
Whitmore, Jennifer.
Wynne, Violet-Anne.

Staon

Tellers: Tá, Deputies Hildegarde Naughton and Cormac Devlin; Níl, Deputies Catherine Connolly and Thomas Pringle.

Question declared carried.

Cuireadh an Dáil ar athló ar 7.57 p.m. go dtí 9 a.m., Déardaoin, an 26 Deireadh Fómhair 2023.

The Dáil adjourned at 7.57 p.m. until 9 a.m. on Thursday, 26 October 2023.

Dáil Éireann díospóireacht - Wednesday, 25 Oct 2023