Richard Boyd Barrett: Condemns War Threats, Defends Neutrality
Richard Boyd Barrett challenged the Taoiseach over Irish neutrality, the use of Shannon for US military transits, and international human rights issues. He contrasted China's human rights record with what he described as far greater dangers from threats by Donald Trump and actions by Israel.
Main points
Richard Boyd Barrett pressed the government in parliament on the role of Shannon Airport and whether Irish policy is facilitating warmongering. He also criticised international actors, naming Donald Trump and Israel, while questioning the credibility of the Chinese regime's condemnations.
China and human rights
Boyd Barrett recalled 1989 and other examples to highlight China’s repression of dissent, including Hong Kong, Tibet and the Uyghurs. He challenged selective outrage on human rights while arguing that contemporary threats from Trump and Israel represent a different and acute danger.
Shannon, protest and neutrality
He referenced a recent protest and a marcher, Leila Doolan, in her 90s, who urged the Irish government not to facilitate US military activity through Shannon. He reiterated the importance of military neutrality and questioned characterisations of Shannon as a military base.
Consequences and debate
The speech frames a debate over national neutrality, local economic impacts in Shannon, and Ireland's international stance. Boyd Barrett asked the Taoiseach to reconcile human rights concerns with the government’s current practices and to be clear about Ireland’s neutrality.
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Taoiseach, the Chinese regime has condemned Trump and Israel's bloody war against Iran as irresponsible and reckless, dangerous and you know that's something coming from a regime we're talking about. Deputy Geoghegan was talking about zero tolerance against blockades. Well China has that. For example in 1989 when students blockaded demanding democracy they sent the tanks in, they sent the army in and mowed them down with tanks. They persecute people in Hong Kong fighting for democracy, people in Tibet, the Uyghurs, the Falun Gong, you name it you get crushed in China. So I'd be interested to know what they had to say about their human rights record but frankly they look like pussycats compared to threats to destroy civilizations coming from Donald Trump and what Israel is doing in Lebanon. I've just come from a protest outside of people's for Liliéa Doolan coming from Shannon in her march, a woman in her 90s marching saying the Irish government should not be facilitating Trump's warmongering by allowing the US military through Shannon. Given what he's doing to you know people in this country, what he's doing to people in the Middle East, in Palestine, do you agree with Liliéa Doolan? I do caution Deputy Boyd Barrett this mischaracterization of Shannon. It's not a military base. Deputy Murphy said it's not a military base. If you want to see a military base go to Spain, go to Italy, go to Germany. We need to be accurate with our commentary and this kind of denigration of Shannon will damage Shannon, will damage the economy of Shannon and will damage jobs in Shannon Airport. Now charter planes are used to bring soldiers home or whatever. There is no military base, there is no military base in Shannon, US military base. It's wrong to characterize it as such. I mean go and look at what a military base is, structure, logistics, everything. That's not what Shannon is and I think we need a small bit of cop-on in respect of it. That's my own view on it and you may disagree and you're entitled to disagree. Again, we are committed to military neutrality. We're not joining any military alliance.
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