Lisbon campaigners clash on neutrality

Pro and anti-Lisbon Treaty campaigners clashed over the issue of Irish neutrality today, with Sinn Féin rejecting the Minister of Defence's claims that it will not affect Ireland’s position.

Speaking at a reception to mark 50 years of UN peacekeeping, Minister for Defence Willie O’Dea said Ireland’s neutrality has been central to the State's vision as the bridge between the developed and developing world.

“Ireland’s neutrality is in our hands and that is where it will be staying at all times. The Reform Treaty does not change or alter this,” said Mr O’Dea.

“There is no threat to Ireland’s traditional policy of military neutrality or to our sovereign right to decide for ourselves when we participate in missions involving the Defence Forces,” he added.

Mr O’Dea’s parliamentary party colleague Dick Roche also spoke out on the neutrality issue at a press conference in Dublin this afternoon where he criticised Sinn Féin.

Earlier today, Sinn Féin Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald said any political party that suggests Ireland’s position as a military neutral will not be affected by the Lisbon Treaty either doesn’t understand the document or doesn’t care.

“The Lisbon Treaty will result in greater amounts of Irish taxpayers’ money being spent on Irish and EU military capabilities. It will further consolidate the EU’s control over foreign and security policy. It will allow for the emergence of mini military alliances of member states, and for the first time the EU will have its own foreign minister with a diplomatic corps who will oversee such policies."

However, the Minister for Foreign Affairs dismissed Sinn Féin’s position and claimed that the EU was a force for peace in the world.

“The Lisbon Reform Treaty is a very positive development, which is true to the finest elements of our tradition of playing a positive role in the world’s conflicts but standing apart from military alliances. A Yes vote is a vote for promoting peacekeeping and protecting neutrality — and nothing Sinn Féin say can challenge this,” said Minister Roche.

Separately, the Irish Alliance for Europe claimed today that the Lisbon Reform Treaty offers a vision of a democratic and accountable Europe with the citizen at its centre.

In an address to the National Forum on Europe, the alliance’s chairman, Ruairí Quinn, said the treaty enshrines social protection "founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality and the rule of law".