Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions
Dail Éireann — 2022-03-24
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Paul Murphy (PBP), Dublin South-West

Will the Minister agree that there be a referendum and that the people get to decide on the question of neutrality instead of having a false mature public debate which does not actually allow the people to participate? Will the Minister accept that if Ireland is going to join a rapid reaction force which is, in effect, a super-sized European battle group comprising 5,000 soldiers, there should be a referendum? Would he accept that if Ireland is to drop the triple lock that there should be a referendum?
People in this country know there is a political establishment. If they look at the record they will understand that it is not yesterday, the day before or a month or two ago that the Government started trying to undermine neutrality. Fianna Fáil promised that there would be a referendum on joining Partnership for Peace, but then in government did not provide a referendum and instead just did it. Fine Gael MEPs voted to increase European military spending from 0.3% to 2% across the EU. Look at what has gone on in Shannon Airport. People do not trust the Government. The only commitment they want from the Government is that we have a referendum.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2022-03-24/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:50:17+00:00
Sitting date: 2022-03-24