Fine Gael's 'bizarre' position on Irish neutrality criticised

FINE GAEL has been criticised for its stance on Irish neutrality after the party's four MEPs voted in favour of a report at the European Parliament which recommends the possible mobilisation of European air and naval assets to the Blacks Sea and calls on NATO to continue developing its missile defence capabilities.

Sinn Féin, whose four MEPs abstained from the vote which dealt with EU and Russian relations, hit out at Fine Gael's decision describing their stance on Irish neutrality as "bizarre":

"I don't understand Fine Gael's logic in voting in favour of this report. Ireland is a neutral state, and this neutrality is compromised by support of a document which effectively condones military action in the Black Sea Basin," said Dublin Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan.

"Fine Gael abstained from voting on many amendments concerning this report, with Seán Kelly MEP citing Ireland's position of neutrality. As a result, I find it utterly bizarre that they supported the overall report seeing that it completely contradicts their earlier position."

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin MEP for the North, Martina Anderson, said that the report – which dealt with the situation in Crimea and eastern Ukraine – was completely one-sided.

Noting that Sinn Féin has strongly condemned Russia's violation of human rights, she said:

"While the report acknowledges the corrosive part played by Russia in the region it completely ignores any responsibility of the EU’s for its role in the development of this conflict. It is simply an unbalanced report."

Former Fine Gael Justice and Defence Minister Alan Shatter TD had previously questioned the relevance of Irish neutrality during an interview with NATO Review.

Despite this, the Irish public remains strongly supportive of continued neutrality. A Red C Research poll in September 2013 showed that 78% of Irish people supported the state's stance of military neutrality with support strongest among younger voters – with 85%  of those under 35 years-old in favour of neutrality. 

Lynn Boylan MEP has called on the four Fine Gael MEPs to "justify their rationale for compromising Ireland's neutrality in this way.