INDEPENDENT TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, has welcomed President Michael D Higgins’ remarks on neutrality and the Government’s Consultative Forum on International Security Policy.
It comes as the government is preparing to hold Consultative Forums this week on Irish Neutrality and President Michael D Higgins voiced his concerns about deviating from Ireland’s traditional policy on neutrality.
In a recent interview, President Michael D Higgins told the Business Post, Ireland is “playing with fire”, and the panels are made up of “formerly neutral countries who are now joining NATO”.
Deputy Pringle said, “I believe President Higgins has raised ‘very important points in relation to Irish neutrality and the upcoming forum which, I believe, has been skewed to favour those who would encourage a change in Ireland’s traditional neutrality.
“I have previously raised my concerns in the Dáil over the composition of the forum. I also believe, as I have said before, that if we are to consider this issue, the rightful place for that debate is in a Citizens’ Assembly, where the voices of the people will be heard.
“The public are strongly in favour of neutrality, something we have seen reaffirmed again in a recent Irish Times/Ipsos poll. Where are their voices in this?
“Instead, we are looking at a forum chaired by Louise Richardson, who has made questionable justifications for US involvement in Chile and Cuba as well as questionable justifications for involvement in Iraq.
“Where in this forum are the voices of other neutral nations and of the NGOs that have worked for peace? Who will make the case for Ireland’s potential for greater influence in international peace talks and ceasefires because of our policy of military neutrality?”
Deputy Pringle has also spoken a number of times in the Dáil and the Council of Europe on the importance of protecting and promoting Irish military neutrality.
Deputy Pringle said: “The Government has been chipping away at our neutrality, bit by bit.
“In January of this year, Irish representatives participated in a NATO Military Committee meeting on NATO strategy. As a neutral country, why should we participate in that?
“Ireland’s traditional strengths have been in peacekeeping and speaking out against injustice and we are respected internationally for our contributions in these vital areas. This forum should be an opportunity to consider the stronger role we can play as a neutral nation in encouraging and sustaining peace around the world,” said Deputy Pringle.
Deputy Pringle will also launch online tomorrow a new book from Afri entitled, Force for Good? Reflections on Neutrality and the Future of Irish Defence, a collection of essays by people who have long worked for peace.
The launch will be held online tomorrow, June 20, at 11am.
Contributors to the book include Nobel Peace Prize laureate Máiréad Maguire; UCC Emeritus Professor John Maguire; Dr Karen Devine of DCU; Dr Iain Atack, formerly of TCD; Carol Fox of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance; and Tarak Kauff, former paratrooper with the US Army and now active member of Veterans for Peace. More information on the launch at www.afri.ie.
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