Brian Stanley: Halt the Defence Amendment Bill, Defend Neutrality

Thanks Sean Comhairle. I want to acknowledge the work of Irish peacekeepers, those in Lebanon and other missions overseas, and particularly the ones who are currently serving in Lebanon with the actions of the terrorist Israeli state. I also want to acknowledge the work of volunteers who have campaigned and continue to campaign to uphold neutrality. And I want to thank all the people from the opposition benches here who spoke this morning on it on the position. I note not one, not one Fianna Fáil TD has darkened the door to come in and defend what's being proposed here. I think that's interesting and it speaks for itself. So, the motion calls on the government to uphold the policy of neutrality and triple lock as set out in the Defence Amendment Act 1960 and the solemn declarations, as I read earlier on into the record, on the Nice and Lisbon treaties and attach to those. And to recognise the commitments regarding the triple lock and neutrality can only be changed or amended by the majority of the electors. Recognise that the triple lock and neutrality are intrinsically linked as set out by Micheál Martin. Strengthen the state's policy of neutrality by bringing forward a referendum and enshrining it in the constitution if you do really believe in it, Minister, which you did say a number of times. And we should work with other neutral non-aligned countries to reform and re-establish the primacy of the UN and reformed UN as a forum to uphold international law and resolving international disputes and conflicts. And abide by the principle of multilateralism and not allow the state to become part of any regional force. We should halt plans to progress this bill which is about abandoning neutrality, the Defence Amendment Bill 2025, and respect the will of the people. I want to say to you, Minister, that being neutral does not inhibit us in any way from having the level of cooperation with other states. Being neutral does not stop us from enhancing and modernising our defence forces and protecting the likes of undersea cables. Or it doesn't stop us from increasing the numbers in the army, the air corps, the navy, or having modern equipment. In fact, it's the government parties who have presided over the running down of the defence forces. Now, welcome to the fact that there's some money now being invested in it and there's been some improvements, but there's a lot more to be done. Poor pay and conditions and lack of investment have been at the core of the problems of what's happened there. Next Tuesday night we have a meeting in Portlaoise at 8 o'clock in the Paris Centre on neutrality. And I'm just getting in that plug, Keon Corley, with your indulgence, thanks. I want to highlight the fact that when people are sent out to war, who is it? Who is it? It won't be the sons and daughters of the militarists. It's the working class who are sent out to the front line. And the arms industry, led by Germany in Europe, are banging the war drums. But of course we have our own cohorts here at it, banging the war drums at home. Over 50 articles in the media calling for the abandonment of the triple lock. Harley Annie putting forward a counter position. And we have week after week where people like Bridget Laffin, Dan O'Brien, Dan Mulhall, John O'Brien, Ben Tonroe, all people banging the war drums and churning out the propaganda that we must do all of this. Abolish the triple lock and abolish our policy of neutrality. There's a conditioning process going on and it's to convince people to transfer money away from spending on agriculture and social cohesion and important matters like health and education and housing and to use that money to buy guns. Bridget Laffin was very clear about it. She was asked what she meant by Brendan O'Connor recently. She said it's about guns. That's what she said. That's her quote. And in relation to NATO, you said Minister here a number of times and you told me at committee and other members at committee of the Defence Committee that oh we're not going to join NATO. But we don't have to join it. And the NATO, the boys and girls at the top of it know this. Why do they know this? Because you're already joining in and you're already signing up for joint missions, partnerships and all sorts of names and terms used as a cover for participating with NATO and being aligned with them. That's the reality. That's the conditioning process. And we're supposed to be neutral. I remember being at Shannon Airport, the one and only time I was there in 2008. And I was horrified to see the number of American troops in American army uniforms going through it. Military overflights and the government at that time signed up to allow this. We can't allow that. The slaughter that happened in Iraq. The slaughter that happened what was worse in Iran. This was all during that time, what happened at that time in Iran. And we facilitated flights into Shannon and out of it and flights overhead in Ireland on military missions. That has to stop. We recently gave 90 million of aid to Ukraine. I support the 60 million by the way for humanitarian purposes. I don't support the 30 million that was given to buy guns and bombs. You're firing guns and bombs into a situation that's already some kind of industrial war is the only way you could describe it. It's like trying to put out a fire by throwing petrol on it. A neutral country cannot do that. So the boys and girls at the top of NATO are not worried because they already have you. It's been mentioned already about Irish neutrality. Wolf Tone was the first one to enunciate it. James Connolly a hundred and ten years ago hung the banner over Liberty Hall across the other side of the river. We serve neither King nor Kaiser but Ireland. And this isn't about being isolationists. This is about us being a peaceful country using our voice as an independent neutral country to stand up for what's right in a world being run by bullies. Bullies like Trump and Putin and others. And the terrorist state of Israel. The terrorist state. And I just want to express my solidarity with the people who have been kidnapped by Israel. And I would urge the government to take the strongest possible action. And you see the Israeli ambassador. Would you tell him to go home as soon as possible and expel the ambassador out of here. He should be expelled out of here. And we should pass the sanctions bill here today to stop any trade with Israel. It's absolutely a disgrace that we cooperate in any way with them.