Mattie McGrath: Calls for a Public Vote to Defend Neutrality
Mattie McGrath spoke in a Dáil debate on a motion about Irish neutrality and recognition for peacekeepers. He argued that neutrality is sacrosanct, opposed efforts to soften public opinion for a change, and called for a public vote plus recognition for veterans of the battle in Djadovan.
He said the Taoiseach and the minister had described neutrality as an outdated concept, but McGrath rejected that view. He insisted neutrality must be preserved and that any change should be put to the people in a referendum.
McGrath criticised a "Dinty Show" roadshow from two years earlier, saying it was intended to "soften the public up" for a change to neutrality. He warned against behind-the-scenes efforts to alter public opinion without a direct vote.
He referenced the aftermath of the Nice referendum, arguing that when the people voted no their decision must be respected. McGrath said the public are sovereign and any reversal should not undermine that mandate.
He urged proper respect and formal recognition for peacekeepers who fought in Djadovan, saying many have not received the acknowledgement promised to them. McGrath called on the minister and the Taoiseach to fulfil commitments made in opposition and to honour those veterans.
Main position
He said the Taoiseach and the minister had described neutrality as an outdated concept, but McGrath rejected that view. He insisted neutrality must be preserved and that any change should be put to the people in a referendum.
Concerns about public persuasion
McGrath criticised a "Dinty Show" roadshow from two years earlier, saying it was intended to "soften the public up" for a change to neutrality. He warned against behind-the-scenes efforts to alter public opinion without a direct vote.
Referendum and sovereignty
He referenced the aftermath of the Nice referendum, arguing that when the people voted no their decision must be respected. McGrath said the public are sovereign and any reversal should not undermine that mandate.
Recognition for peacekeepers
He urged proper respect and formal recognition for peacekeepers who fought in Djadovan, saying many have not received the acknowledgement promised to them. McGrath called on the minister and the Taoiseach to fulfil commitments made in opposition and to honour those veterans.
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Transcript
I'd like to thank the Social Democrats for allowing me some time on this very important motion today. I think the Minister, and I wish you well on your position, you know my position on this, and my position is that our neutrality is sacrosanct. I was very concerned about two years ago now, when the Dinty Show had this roadshow, and you know, it was all hand-peak people to try and soften the public up, and it softens up for a change to our neutrality. He's also said, Taoiseach Merton has also said that our neutrality is an outdated concept. Well I don't believe it is, and I think it should go to the people. Let the people decide, we tell them they're sovereign, they should be sovereign here, and it has to be a vote. We know how this came about after the Nice referendum at the time, and when the people said no, you went back and softened them up with this, so we must respect the people's vote then, and why they vote it. So I also want to say, it would fit you better, Minister and Taoiseach, to give the proper respect to our peacekeepers, respect to the people who fought that heroic battle in Djadovan, and Taoiseach Merton has promised them in opposition that he would look after them. They haven't got the recognition, they're almost all gone, and they need that recognition, and it should be done in this stall. So, I think he's made that recognition, that they don't apologize for it. So he doesn't have to say, the people who fought that heroic battle for their fight to build this for their life sooner, so I've lost it, but he won't say that they want to be done in those places, but he's actually been extremely successful. So... So, I believe it does not mean it, that we need to go through this process, and I'm done. So I was going through this process, and I don't think so. So what I'm going through here is to take a deep breath of how things are gonna go through, and you can all this in between these scenes. So I really love this thing. I don't think so. So I can see that, so I think I'm really going through this, and I can see that how this feeling.