Labour TDs urged to again back Neutrality Bill – Dáil debate Friday

THE LABOUR PARTY is being asked to reiterate its support in 2003 for Sinn Féin’s then unsuccessful Neutrality Bill by backing Seán Crowe’s new Neutrality Bill when it comes before the Dáil on Friday.

In 2003, Labour was in Opposition; today, it is in Government but Seán Crowe says the principles are the same.

◼︎ The Neutrality Bill calls for the insertion of neutrality into the Constitution.

◼︎ The Neutrality Bill seeks to amend the Constitution to ensure that Ireland will not and could not aid foreign powers in any way in preparation for a war unless it's with the assent of the Dáil.

◼︎ The Bill also affirms that Ireland is a neutral state and that the state would have a policy of non-membership of military alliances.

Seán Crowe, Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on International Affairs, says:

“Ultimately, this Bill gives power to the Irish people as it would create a referendum to decide if Irish citizens want this state to be a neutral country. The overwhelming evidence is that they do. A Red C Poll carried out in September 2013 found that 78% of Irish people believe that Ireland should have a policy of neutrality.

“Sinn Féin tabled a Neutrality Bill in 2003 and the Labour Party, then in Opposition, voted in favour of it. We hope they do the same when this Bill comes before the Dáil.

“A referendum would bring clarity to this state’s neutrality policy, which has become blurred, distorted and riddled with doublespeak as successive governments say one thing but actually do the opposite.”

The Sinn Féin TD said this is clearly seen in the case of foreign militaries using Shannon and Irish airspace “to wage war and conduct rendition flights”.

The ongoing court case involving Deputies Mick Wallace and Clare Daly has heard evidence from military experts that details how foreign militaries transport weapons on their aircraft going through Shannon.

“There are many within the EU who wish to build a military structure to complement NATO by cleaning up their mess, under the guise of peacebuilding,” Seán Crowe says.

“Ireland’s deeper integration into the EU’s military system ensures this Bill is timely.”

Deputy Crowe pointed out that a Fianna Fáil-led Government signed Ireland up to “NATO’s ironically named Partnership for Peace (PfP)”, which is generally seen as a stepping stone to full NATO membership. Ireland currently has a dedicated office in Brussels just for the NATO PfP “which brings no benefit to Ireland but costs us hundreds of thousands of euro a year”.

The Sinn Féin TD added:

“NATO is a Cold War relic which should be disbanded.  Instead we have seen it aggressively grow and encourage more spending on weapons.

“The NATO-led operation in Libya may have been declared a success in terms of regime change but it has left behind a country in tatters, just as it did in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

He pointed out that, on a 2013 visit to Dublin, the then Secretary General of NATO said he “warmly welcomed” the prospect of Ireland becoming more involved in NATO. A motion at the 2014 Fine Gael Conference called for Ireland to join NATO. “While it was defeated,” Seán Crowe says, “it shows that some are eyeing up that possibility”, adding:

“Decisions like this shouldn’t be left solely in the hands of a Government, but come directly from the Irish people through a referendum.

“Neutrality is not a policy of opting out of international affairs; rather it is a commitment to a different type of international politics focused on justice, development and human rights.

“Sinn Féin also fully supports the continued role of Irish troops in UN peacekeeping missions around the world, and the brave work they do. Blue helmet peacekeeping missions and Irish Aid continue to be two of the most positive pillars of this state’s foreign affairs over the decades.

“I call on all TDs to support this Neutrality Bill and allow the Irish people to decide on whether our Constitution should enshrine neutrality.”