Danny Healy-Rae: Defends Irish Neutrality and Triple Lock
Danny Healy-Rae addresses the Dáil on a motion brought by Deputy Brian Stanley, urging that Ireland retain its neutrality and the constitutional triple lock. He calls on the government to put any change to the people and thanks Ireland's peacekeeping forces while rejecting a European army.
Danny Healy-Rae opened by thanking Deputy Brian Stanley for the timely motion and made clear his position: Ireland should retain its neutrality and the triple lock. He argued that any proposal to alter these arrangements should be decided by the people of Ireland through a referendum.
Healy-Rae referenced the 2013 debate when then Ministers took differing stances on the triple lock, noting that if parties now seek to change the policy they should put it to the country. He invoked recent and past political positions, including comments by Micheál Martin and the historical example of Eamon de Valera.
Healy-Rae recalled Eamon de Valera's refusal to abandon neutrality during the Second World War, framing that stance as a defence of Irish sovereignty against external pressure. He said those decisions continue to be a guiding example when considering Ireland's role in international security.
He thanked Ireland's peacekeeping forces for their service in conflicts around the world and stated his opposition to the creation of a European army that Ireland would join. He reiterated that sovereignty and the people's voice must determine any change to neutrality or defence policy.
Motion and position
Danny Healy-Rae opened by thanking Deputy Brian Stanley for the timely motion and made clear his position: Ireland should retain its neutrality and the triple lock. He argued that any proposal to alter these arrangements should be decided by the people of Ireland through a referendum.
Referendums and political context
Healy-Rae referenced the 2013 debate when then Ministers took differing stances on the triple lock, noting that if parties now seek to change the policy they should put it to the country. He invoked recent and past political positions, including comments by Micheál Martin and the historical example of Eamon de Valera.
Historical reference and sovereignty
Healy-Rae recalled Eamon de Valera's refusal to abandon neutrality during the Second World War, framing that stance as a defence of Irish sovereignty against external pressure. He said those decisions continue to be a guiding example when considering Ireland's role in international security.
Peacekeepers and European defence
He thanked Ireland's peacekeeping forces for their service in conflicts around the world and stated his opposition to the creation of a European army that Ireland would join. He reiterated that sovereignty and the people's voice must determine any change to neutrality or defence policy.
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Transcript
First of all, I want to thank Deputy Brian Stanley for bringing this timely motion, very important motion here today, to allow us to tell what we want here in Dalyan regarding our neutrality. And I think it's most important that we retain our neutrality and retain the triple lock. And if the government wants to change that, by all means, put it to the people of Ireland. Put it to the country. There's nothing to be afraid of. At all times, the people of Ireland gave their opinion on the different referendums that was put before them. And we duly, in this chamber, had to recognise the voice of the people. And that's what we're waiting for here. Because back in 2013, Deputy Micheál Martin, at the time he's now a Taoiseach, suggested that we couldn't get rid of the triple lock, or that we wouldn't get rid of the triple lock. And indeed, the only difference between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael at that time was that Fine Gael were apparently for getting rid of the triple lock and Fianna Fáil weren't. So if you want to change that yourselves, that means that you're more or less going to unite and be the one party, because there's no difference between them in my eyes anyway. Dave stood up to Churchill in the Second World War. And I, as a young fellow, when I listened to his speech at the time, England had oppressed us for more than 800 years. And he told Churchill where to go and that he wasn't taking his dictation when he was asked to forego neutrality and get involved in the war at that time and to open up the ports for England. And I forever and many people will always thank Eamon de Valera for that stance and for standing up to the powers of the world at that time and held our neutrality. I want to thank our peacekeeping forces for all the work they've done in the different conflicts across the world. And I certainly don't want to see a European army that we're part of.