Oireachtas

TD attacks Fianna Fail's stance on PfP

Fianna Fail's refusal to keep its pledge to hold a referendum on Partnership for Peace was "a deliberate and calculated act to…

By MICHAEL O'REGAN and MARIE O'HALLORAN
Wed Nov 03 1999 - 00:00

Fianna Fail's refusal to keep its pledge to hold a referendum on Partnership for Peace was "a deliberate and calculated act to subvert the will of the people", Mr Tony Gregory (Ind, Dublin Central) claimed. ????????????ail.

In a ail debate which is expected to continue today, Mr Gregory said that ignoring commitments or breaking promises was not unique to Fianna Fail.

However, there was "blatant dishonesty and hypocrisy" in the party's stated position on Ireland's proposed membership prior to the last general election when viewed in the context of the U-turn when the party is in Government.

The Green Party accused the Government of a "sell-out". Mr Trevor Sargent (Dublin North) said the US ambassador to NATO pointed out that the enhanced PfP was furthering the goal of military "inter-operability" and making the difference between a partner and an ally razor-thin.

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Mr Sargent warned that the Government faced a backlash when the real cost of PfP was realised. The Cabinet was about to "embark on one of the costliest Christmas shopping sprees of armaments ever experienced by the Irish State".

Mr John Browne (FG, Carlow-Kilkenny) however, said the price of war was high in monetary terms but "the price of peace cannot be costed because we must protect those who need protection".

Fine Gael supports membership of PfP, and Mr Browne said that the "genial" Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, said that PfP was a back door to NATO. This was wrong but, having made such a statement, "it is a cause for concern that the Government should do such a somersault and not hold a referendum".

Ms Liz McManus (Lab, Wicklow) said there had been no adequate explanation from the Government as to why it "opted for betrayal rather than being true to its promise. It may be that it has succumbed under duress to US interests which are intent on drawing Ireland into the sphere of NATO influence and future NATO membership."

She added that joining PfP was not just about a closer relationship with NATO, but about loosening Ireland's connection with the United Nations. "The UN is clearly a flawed organisation but it has one great strength possessed by no other organisation of its type - its global nature encompasses everyone regardless of their economic status."