Rose Conway-Walsh: Neutrality Under Threat, Triple Lock at Risk
Rose Conway-Walsh addresses the Dail/Seanad motion on Irish neutrality, arguing that recent government actions by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are hollowing out Ireland's non-aligned status and risking the Triple Lock. She highlights use of Shannon Airport for US military logistics and calls for a referendum if neutrality is to be abandoned.
Main accusation
Rose Conway-Walsh accuses Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael of steadily undermining Ireland's neutrality and the Triple Lock by facilitating military cooperation that compromises sovereignty. She frames neutrality as a deliberate expression of independence and a moral basis for Ireland's international standing.
Shannon airport and operations
The speaker points to Shannon Airport's role as a hub for the US military, facilitating transport of troops and munitions to active war zones. She contrasts that use with Irish peacekeeping flights from Baldonnell to UNIFIL in Lebanon to underline the apparent contradiction and diplomatic cost.
Sovereignty and moral authority
Conway-Walsh questions how Ireland can credibly speak for peace, diplomacy and international law while allowing military transit that appears to support conflict. She argues this is a disregard for sovereignty and a hollowing out of neutrality in the eyes of the world.
Triple Lock and democratic choice
The address defends the Triple Lock as a democratic safeguard protecting the Irish people and calls for any fundamental change to be put to a referendum. Sinn Féin's position, says Conway-Walsh, is for strengthened defence forces rooted in independence, multilateralism and peacekeeping rather than closer alignment with military alliances.
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Comhairle, I want to thank Deputy Stanley for bringing forward this very important motion. Our neutrality is not an accident of history, it's a conscious expression of our independence, our sovereignty and our belief that small nations can be a force for peace in the world. Our non-participation in foreign conflicts or military alliances has earned Ireland respect across the globe. But this reputation has been steadily undermined by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, who seem hell-bent on dismantling the Triple Lock and sending Irish men and Irish women overseas to fight foreign wars. For years now, Shannon Airport has been used as a hub for the US military, facilitating the transport of armed troops and munitions to active war zones, including the Middle East. This completely compromises our position of neutrality in the eyes of the world. We find ourselves in a staggering situation whereby we're sending our own peacekeeping personnel out of Baldonnell on their way to serve with UNIFIL in Lebanon. And hot on their tails is a US warplane carrying the bombs that will be dropped by Israel around their base. Now, how this is still being allowed, it's complete disregard of our sovereignty and of our military neutrality. How can Ireland claim to stand for peace, diplomacy and international law, or speak with any moral authority to countries suffering the consequences of war? If we allow our neutrality to be hollowed out piece by piece, the Triple Lock is central to protecting that neutrality. It is a democratic safeguard and a guarantee to the Irish people. Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael want to dismantle that protection, without the consent of the people. Sinn Féin rejects that approach completely. We support strengthening our defence forces, but our defence policy must be rooted in independence, in multilateralism and peacekeeping, not closer alignment with military alliances. If Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael truly believe the Irish people want to abandon neutrality, then put it to the people in a referendum. Put it to the people in a referendum.
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