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'Willingness on all sides' sees assisted dying become political reality ahead of Dáil vote

The Dying with Dignity Bill will be subject to a Dáil vote on Wednesday.

IN RECENT WEEKS, as if out of nowhere, assisted dying has gone from being a peripheral to a topical issue with cross-party political consensus.  

The idea has come to the fore in the form of the Dying with Dignity Bill, a piece of proposed legislation which was debated in the Dáil this week and which could yet make it to committee stage when it is voted on this Wednesday.

The bill would legislate for medically assisted dying, an option that would allow medical professionals to assist terminally ill patients to end their own lives.

The practice is legal in several other countries and already has a number of high-profile proponents in Ireland.

But is highly contentious and fraught with ethical dilemmas, with fears that it could negatively impact vulnerable members of society.

Sinn Féin, Labour, the Social Democrats and People Before Profit have all said they will vote in favour of the bill next week, while Government parties will seemingly have a free vote on it.

Last month, Fine Gael TDs and Senators spoke in favour of a free vote on the legislation, although others raised concerns about the divergence of opinion on the issue.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan also said that there was “flexibility” within his party on the issue when he indicated that he could allow a conscience vote on the bill.

However, some Independent TDs are opposed to the bill and it is not known how many Government deputies will vote against progressing it.

Complicated process

The bill is currently at Second Stage and will go to committee stage if it passes on Wednesday.

But this is where it gets complicated: the type of committee that will examine the legislation will depend on how the bill progresses (if it does so at all).

This week, the government tabled an amendment that would allow a special Oireachtas committee to examine the issue of assisted dying – like the recently disbanded Special Committee on Covid-19.

Usually, when a bill proceeds to committee stage, an existing Oireachtas committee responsible for the particular area it covers examines it.

In this case, that could be the Oireachtas committee on Justice and Equality or the Oireachtas committee on Health. 

Members of Cabinet are bound to support the Government’s amendment, but it appears as if dozens of other TDs from Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party will have a free vote on the bill.

That could mean the amendment is defeated and it simply passes to ‘regular’ committee stage – or alternatively, that it doesn’t pass at all.

People Before Profit TD Gino Kenny, who put forward the proposed legislation, believes that although the bill should be open to pre-legislative scrutiny, sending it to a special committee would mean it would “never see the light of day again”.

“It would unduly delay the process and it would be difficult to know what happens after that,” he told TheJournal.ie earlier this week.

“My experience in the last four years, in relation to opposition bills, has been pretty bad: they go to committee stage and they’re completely sabotaged by Government TDs.

“In this case, I think there is a willingness on all sides to progress this issue. I think that in the last couple of weeks, the idea has made huge strides.”

Commended

The cross-party support for the issue was evidenced during Thursday’s debate when only one TD spoke against the bill (although two TDs – Mattie McGrath and Aontú’s Peadar Tóibín – sought to but couldn’t due to how speaking time was allocated).

Indeed, it was notable that almost every TD who spoke, including Fine Gael’s Helen McEntee and Alan Farrell, commended Kenny for putting the bill forward in the first place.

Speaking in the Dáil against the bill, however, independent Louth TD Peter Fitzpatrick expressed concerns about the impact the bill would have on elderly people and those with disabilities.

“I find it absolutely shocking that some of the most vulnerable people in our society turn on their radios these days and are bombarded with media stories pushing the case legalising assisted suicide,” he said.

“At the very time we should be encouraging people and putting supports in place to help the morale and well-being of people who’ve been through so much… the Dáil is spending time talking about introducing a law that would sanction the ending of people’s lives.”

The Government, however, argued that having a special Oireachtas Committee examine the issue would allow for an in-depth look at what is such a sensitive subject.

The special committee on abortion was held up as an example of where this had been successful previously, and Fianna Fáil’s Anne Rabbitte highlighted how a new committee could likewise consider a wide range of opinions from across society on assisted dying.

It should be noted that the last Dáil already took a limited look at the subject.

Over two days in November 2017, the Joint Committee on Justice and Equality heard from experts and advocates for assisted dying, disabilities and palliative care.

The result was a report which urged the Oireachtas to consider referring the issue to a Citizens’ Assembly – something which Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has acknowledged would now be difficult in the midst of a pandemic.

Furthermore, previous assemblies on big social issues have recommended referendums on abortion and marriage equality, but legal experts explained to TheJournal.ie this week that a referendum is not necessary to pass assisted dying legislation.

Regardless, it remains a highly sensitive area, and politicians have repeatedly stressed the need to consider all voices in the debate.

Whether that debate continues in the Oireachtas beyond Wednesday still remains to be seen, but even if it doesn’t, the wider discussion about assisted dying won’t be going away any time soon.

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35 Comments
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    Mute Colm Flaherty
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    Apr 25th 2016, 6:26 AM

    TD climbs the fence, gets arrested.

    TD complains that having guards at fence is a Bad Thing.

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    Mute brian boru
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    Apr 25th 2016, 6:53 AM

    TD expertly highlights an infringement of our neutrality that was never debated where it should have been debated the dail chamber.

    Decisions made in dark rooms that effect us all are an erosion of our democracy.

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    Mute Jason Culligan
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    Apr 25th 2016, 7:05 AM

    What neutrality? Last I checked we’ve always been deeply engrained in Western military circles and heavily rely on NATO for national security.

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    Mute Ted Logan
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    Apr 25th 2016, 7:10 AM

    Do we refuse to allow other militaries land at Shannon to refuel?
    US government has been using Shannon for decades. But even at the height of the Cold War Shannon had both US and Soviet aircraft using Shannon.

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    Mute The Throwaway
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    Apr 25th 2016, 7:10 AM

    Exactly, people have this urban myth in their head that Ireland has neutrality. There is nothing in the constitution, nothing in law, and in practice it’s more a policy of keep the head down, don’t make waves, and stay on the good side of the western powers.

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    Mute brian boru
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    Apr 25th 2016, 7:10 AM

    That attitude @ Jason will ensure we never reach our goal of neutrality.

    If every country tried to be neutral or worked towards it we would eventually see an end to war.

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    Mute Jason Culligan
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    Apr 25th 2016, 7:15 AM

    Brian, who ever said that neutrality is our goal? It’s just a convenient foreign policy that allows successive politicians to delude themselves that investment in the IDF isn’t necessary as our mythical neutrality will somehow protect us.

    Meanwhile during WW2 we struck deals with the British for security of our island should the Germans invade. Even now NATO handles our airspace security as we simply couldn’t be bothered paying to do it ourselves.

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    Mute Joe Harbison
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    Apr 25th 2016, 7:15 AM

    ……….or get over-run by the country with the bows and arrows, one or other in any case.

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    Mute brian boru
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    Apr 25th 2016, 7:37 AM

    Ok Jason I believe we are neutral you don’t….let’s put it to a vote we can do it the same day we go to enshrine our water in our constitution.

    Imagine that referendums that are not just stunts and are about how our country should be lead.

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    Mute Martin Critten
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    Apr 25th 2016, 7:51 AM

    We can pontificate how we like about neutrality (its not in the Constitution) but aggressors never give a monkey’s about niceties. And as always Ireland lives in the Shadow of much stronger neighbors, who will be called on to liberate. And again we think Shannon is the be-end all to US Military flights into Europe. Forgetting there’s three basis in the UK bigger than Shannon and Limerick combined. So indeed they could walk if they wanted and Shannon would close.

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    Mute Bilbo Baggins
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    Apr 25th 2016, 7:56 AM

    But Jason is right there is nothing in our Constitution about neutrality so a referendum would be pointless. It is a political stance. Basically as outlined above one to prevent us having to invest in the IDF.

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    Mute brian boru
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    Apr 25th 2016, 7:57 AM

    So foreign troops operating in our country is a business decision as opposed to a political one?

    If we are making money out of War we are not conducting ourselves in a neutral manner.

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    Mute Freebetcitydcom Mike
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    Apr 25th 2016, 8:07 AM

    Besides the fact Colm’s comment is daft and itrelevant, there is also huge gaming of red thumbs and green thumbs on this thread. The numbers were well out of what with views after very early on.
    Thats the US war machine for you.
    And dont forget, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE are employed in the US to manage opinion abroad in online fora.

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    Mute Colm Flaherty
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    Apr 25th 2016, 8:17 AM

    Daft? Irrelevant? Way to play the man & not the ball. But then again what has fiscal prudence got to do with finding any stick to beat Shannon with & painting all military actions, from insertion to extraction, as “war”.

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    Mute Larissa Caroline Nikolaus
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    Apr 25th 2016, 8:48 AM

    @Brian Voru, did Belgium’s and The Netherlands’ neutrality stop the Nazis from invading the two countries?

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    Mute Lorem Ipsum
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    Apr 25th 2016, 8:49 AM

    Brian you can “believe” we’re neutral all you want. It won’t make it true

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    Mute Avina Laaf
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    Apr 25th 2016, 8:51 AM

    You’re deluded freedomcity

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    Mute Colm Greene
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    Apr 25th 2016, 8:57 AM

    How about we just let the US use Shannon as a way of our saying thanks for helping Europe fight The Nazis in WW2 while we played the neutral card then too.

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    Mute Mer Curial
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    Apr 25th 2016, 10:13 AM

    Martin the only significant power with the ability and proximity to invade us would be the UK, and they’re a friendly country.

    Our geographical remoteness and lack of any rare resources makes the chance of an asteroid strike higher than the likes of Russia or China invading us.

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    Mute Ronan Gallagher
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    Apr 25th 2016, 10:35 AM

    We have always been told by the government that none of the planes landing have weapons onboard as it is against Irish law. So you believe them?

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    Mute Martin Critten
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    Apr 25th 2016, 11:25 AM

    Mer would agree in part, but past efforts in maintaining a defensive block have served to quell any intentions, and much of that infrastructure will assist in dealing with any new threats of terrorism. Advertising a passive stance will do nothing other than irritate friendly nations, who have to stump up should anything untoward happen. Why be an ass with those how would help out.

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    Mute Nigel O'Neill
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    Apr 25th 2016, 12:24 PM

    @Jason…where is ‘deeply engrained” written in any official policy or national security agreement and when is the last time NATO forces had to come here to assist our national security!?!?!

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    Mute Tom Purcell
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    Apr 25th 2016, 1:09 PM

    There is no goal of neutrality.

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    Mute James Power
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    Apr 25th 2016, 4:51 PM

    Eh, everyone saying that neutrality is not in our constitution might want to have a wee look at article 29. The Lisbon treaty requires us to send humanitarian aid to any European country if they are invaded but we are exempted from military cooperation.

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    Mute James Power
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    Apr 25th 2016, 4:54 PM

    @Nigel O’Neill British fighter jets were invited in to track Russian bombers last year. We had nothing that could keep up.

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    Mute Lorem Ipsum
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    Apr 25th 2016, 6:09 PM

    Right James so where is it in the constitution?

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    Mute Seán O'Ceallaghan
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    Apr 25th 2016, 6:19 PM

    Anyone remember that time we bought guns off the Germans.

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    Mute mickmc
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    Apr 25th 2016, 6:51 AM

    We know how much it cost us but how much profit do we make out the refueling operation. I could be wrong but my guess it’s a lot more than €1.2 million.

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    Mute bings
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    Apr 25th 2016, 8:12 AM

    The planes landing at Shannon are paying landing fees, etc. Do you really think Shannon airport can operate without this fee. These planes are just landing & refueling nothing else.

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    Mute mickmc
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    Apr 25th 2016, 8:14 AM

    And I’m sure their passengers are going into the terminal and spending their dollar’s.

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    Mute Ciaran Coye
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    Apr 25th 2016, 11:29 AM

    Oh yes and that’s what its all about. Making the moola. Nothing considered about our participation in the slaughter of innocence. We stand by our neutrality though. What a sham.

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    Mute Lorem Ipsum
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    Apr 25th 2016, 11:33 AM

    How many times do you people have to be told that we aren’t neutral?

    And why is it only American planes you have a problem with?

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    Mute Stephen Duggan
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    Apr 25th 2016, 6:18 AM

    Totally worth it to have the biggest and best military force in the world as an ally, one things for sure if we ever need them, they’ll have our back, on land, sea or air.

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    Mute brian boru
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    Apr 25th 2016, 6:45 AM

    Unless it’s Europe America has a problem with…. Neutrality is not just something we say it should be something we do as well.

    Although I agree with supporting our American friends I would prefer to do it without effecting our neutrality.

    Was any attempt made to explain our neutrality when the request was made to stop here? Two TDs who have punched above their weight for highlighting dangerous actions of the state.

    Clear evidence why real ( I don’t include Lowry) independent TDs are never a wasted vote.

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    Mute Jason Culligan
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    Apr 25th 2016, 7:08 AM

    Yes it was Brian, part of the conditions of using Shannon as a landing destination was that soldiers could not be armed while on Irish soil and aircraft landing here cannot be armed with any kind of weaponry.

    Officially we also allow military flights from other nations to land here under the same conditions and some do avail of this.

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    Mute Joe Harbison
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    Apr 25th 2016, 7:13 AM

    We are a member of
    The UN
    The EC
    The OECD
    The IMF
    The Council of Europe
    The World Trade Organisation
    The International Criminal Court
    and any number of other bodies. We regularly send military forces into conflict zones. Guess what, we’re not actually neutral, we’re fairly militarily unaligned but that’s just a hang-over from the Second World War.

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    Mute brian boru
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    Apr 25th 2016, 7:13 AM

    And our are wishes being respected Jason are we sure there are no arms on board?

    What inspections take place and are the results of those inspections debated in the dail?

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    Mute brian boru
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    Apr 25th 2016, 7:19 AM

    We send troops on peace keeping missions that are sanctioned by the UN.

    I personally would rather see us remain neutral and withdraw from these missions. Our vibrant not for profit and charities should be our representation on missions.

    Irish neutrality or our attempt to walk that road is what makes me proudest about being Irish.

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    Mute Joe Harbison
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    Apr 25th 2016, 7:20 AM

    Hi Mr Obama, welcome to Aras an Uachtarain. Before you come in though we’re going to frisk you because, although you’ve told us you aren’t carrying a gun, and you’re from a friendly country and we think that even if you had it’s unlikely you’d pull it on Michael or Sabina, you just can’t be too careful!

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    Mute brian boru
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    Apr 25th 2016, 7:28 AM

    Hi mr Obama,

    In ireland we pride ourself on being neutral. For this reason you won’t need a gun walking around our country. Do you mind if we check that you don’t carry a gun so our neutrality is not impeded.

    It’s how you phrase the question….

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    Mute Joe Harbison
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    Apr 25th 2016, 7:53 AM

    No but diplomatically if you are told by a friendly nation that there are no arms on board, usually you take their word for it unless you think those arms are to be used against you.

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    Mute brian boru
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    Apr 25th 2016, 8:08 AM

    What arms I thought they said they had none?

    Trust is built on more then just words it involves actions. IF it is explained that we are attempting to operate a neutral policy and to keep with this stance we must enforce a no arms policy on our soil by foreign armies diplomatically it can be worked through.

    The problem is if our diplomats forget or don’t believe or agree with the policy.

    Neutrality is easy to explain if you believe in it.

    “Diplomacy is the art of telling people to go to hell in such a way that they ask for directions.”

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    Mute Freebetcitydcom Mike
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    Apr 25th 2016, 8:11 AM

    Stephen duggan on the paid tlt aswell. This is the most blatant comment ive seen in a while. U sound like one of those hollywood blockbusters…like that movie with Mark Wahlberg , shooter “dont you dare say that, donny knew exactly what he was doing enrolling in scout sniper training” with wahlberg smirking it was so uncomfortable.A 2 mil ad for the low paid of america to try emulate bob lee swaggert with.
    Managing perceptions is tough job eh ? Billions pumped into it every year

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    Mute Lorem Ipsum
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    Apr 25th 2016, 8:52 AM

    If anything, requiring UN assent to send our troops overseas destroys any vestige of “neutrality” or even autonomy

    We’ve imposed on ourselves a need for the agreement of the US, UK, China, Russia and France to send our troops where we think they should go. Why is that something we should continue to do?

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    Mute Colm Greene
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    Apr 25th 2016, 9:41 AM

    Brian, im curious what your policy would be if somehow ISIS made it to our shores or if back in WW2 Germany overran Britain and began conquering us.

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    Mute Peter Fechter
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    Apr 25th 2016, 10:33 AM

    We have bought ammunition from Israel.

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    Mute brian boru
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    Apr 25th 2016, 11:33 AM

    Hey Colm to be honest I think we are naive to think Isis are not operating here in ireland already. I think the more we have to change as a society to fight these ideologies the greater the lose our society suffers.Hopefully the good people who try to protect us from political extremists are on the ball and we catch these people and prevent any lose of life.

    As for hitler too distant a time for me to comprehend the decisions they had to make. Sure they didn’t even have iPhones back then….

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    Mute Tom Purcell
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    Apr 25th 2016, 12:16 PM

    @Joe
    and we are also members of:
    NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) programme
    &
    NATO’S Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC).

    Neutrality is a conceptual luxury that has no place in the modern world. We cannot defend ourselves from the real dangers of the 21st century – ideological terrorists, DOS attacks, dirty weapons technology etc. The niceties of international law are not recognised by our modern-day enemies.

    We need to get off our left-wing high-jorses which give us the automatic position of “if it infolves US or UK then it is the Capitalist overlords against the opressed masses” – YAWN

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    Mute James Onedin
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    Apr 25th 2016, 7:07 AM

    TD climbs fence to make point……..aircraft due to land at Shannon are forced to circle or divert because of TD’s incursion………TD puts the lives of innocent passengers at risk.

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    Mute Marg murphy
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    Apr 25th 2016, 6:38 AM

    The US is and has always been our friend. It is right and proper that we do what little we can in the fight against international terrorism. The irony of course is that the same people who complain about the cost are the same lunatic fringe who post the threat in t he the first place.

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    Mute gus sheridan
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    Apr 25th 2016, 8:22 AM

    Marge Murphy, the US has only been our “friend” when it suits them.

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    Mute Colman McGrath
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    Apr 25th 2016, 8:44 AM

    Marg the real Irony is that it was the Americans who armed and the trained these so called terrorists. So I wouldn’t be booming the whole hey we’re friends with the Americans from the rooftops.

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    Mute Jason Culligan
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    Apr 25th 2016, 8:47 AM

    Any proof to back that claim up Colman?

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    Mute Colman McGrath
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    Apr 25th 2016, 10:55 AM

    How about the fact that Hilary Clinton admitted it in interview. Proof enough for you !!!

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    Mute Tom
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    Apr 25th 2016, 11:56 AM

    Yeah Gus lets kick the yanks out and all their corporations and shut down Shannon , what about all the money wasted paying these idiot independents Wallace and Daly ?

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    Mute Niall Lonergan
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    Apr 25th 2016, 6:56 AM

    And how much do we make from the US activity at Shannon?

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    Mute Kate Kavanagh
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    Apr 25th 2016, 6:20 AM

    Redundant article.

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    Mute Podge
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    Apr 25th 2016, 7:59 AM

    Forgive me for asking Clare – but how about all that money your fence climbing pal owes? I’m sure instead of taxpayers footing the bill for it via bailout it could have been better used for schools, hospitals and guards

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    Mute Ibhar Mac Suibhne
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    Apr 25th 2016, 6:20 AM

    Ah sure you know the army and Gardai are needed there to protect the US Soldiers from a threat that wouldn’t exist if they weren’t there in the first place …. And of course the US needs Shannon so it can continue its policy of extra ordinary rendition, global terror and imperialism….. Another fine mess FG and FF getting us into!

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    Mute Bobby wilson
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    Apr 25th 2016, 6:32 AM

    Ibhar…how much does USA spend on protecting 26 county state backsides every day should be question. ..!!!!

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    Mute Marg murphy
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    Apr 25th 2016, 6:44 AM

    @igbar. You think the gardai are there to protect American soldiers? Surely you’re having a laugh!! The gardai are there to keep out the socialist, ex teachers on a mission and also on massive pensions, with all the time in the world to be a nuisance with hatchets and scale fences and attack aircraft.
    Gardai protecting the US army…lol.

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    Mute Ibhar Mac Suibhne
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    Apr 25th 2016, 7:15 AM

    Protect from what or who? Please explain ? And if you say from ISIS well it’s well documented already that the US aided in the creation or ISIS… So who’s ‘wagging the dog’ here?

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    Mute Ibhar Mac Suibhne
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    Apr 25th 2016, 7:25 AM

    Well Marg, the US Soldiers aren’t supposed to be armed when at Shannon , and I’ve taken part in a fair few protests at Shannon and I’ve seen plenty of armed Gardai and army there , so if US backed ISIS or socialists TD’s that are defending the rule of international law decide they want to enter the secure part of airport I think the war mongers would be grateful that our guys are they’re to protect them with their weapons !

    Again if the US didn’t instigate the illegal wars in Iraq and Afghanistan or the undeclared drone wars Yemen or kidnap innocents around the world well Islamic extremism wouldn’t be so much of an issue … How about you learn some history on the issue from the last 20 years Marg ?

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    Mute Marg murphy
    Favourite Marg murphy
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    Apr 25th 2016, 7:55 AM

    Islamic extremism is on the rise anyway. Has been for the last 20 years. Islam in general is more fundamental now than its has ever been. We can thank the Saudis for that and the west can be blamed only in so far as we pander to the Saudis and allow them to build the mosques and dictate the strand of Islam that will be embedded in Europe. The rise of Islamic extremism is a direct result of allowing Saudi financed radical imans call the shots on our soil and infect the young. Our PC thinking and leftist pandering along with governmental kow towing to Saudi princes are the factors behind the rise of radical Islam.

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    Mute whereisspace
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    Apr 25th 2016, 8:10 AM

    Ibhar…you’ll find that the largest western massacre in the name of islam happened before those illegal wars so islamic extremism was alive and well before them…it’s not because of those wars…

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    Mute Bobby wilson
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    Apr 25th 2016, 10:08 PM

    Ibhar…islamic fundamentals have been slaughtering and killing shiite / kurds / christian/ Hindus / Sikhism / Bahai /buddists/ jews and many more minorities in the world including hard left socialists long before the war in Afghanistan and Iraq( bombing and killing from 1976
    lebanon christian population by Islamic extremists )..!!!!

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    Mute Ibhar Mac Suibhne
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    Apr 26th 2016, 8:38 AM

    Marg, the rise of Islamic extremism didn’t happen in a vacuum,whilst there’s always been an extreme element in Islam (just as in Christianity) since the end of WWII you’ve had the west interfering in the middle east, starting with partition with the Sykes-Picot Agreement into the puppet states we see now, and also the overthrow of the democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran Mohammad Mosaddegh in 1953 by the UK…….’forced regieme change’ has we now know causes a vacuum in which extremists love in inhabit!, We now see the same mistakes in Iraq, Afghanistan , Syria, Libya …..etc etc

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    Mute Ibhar Mac Suibhne
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    Apr 26th 2016, 8:43 AM

    @ Bobby
    So has Christian fundamentalism has been slaughtering all types for centuries …..are you believing the Fox News hype?

    Don;t forget all those white extremists and african war lords that act in the name of that make believe guy in the sky!

    There’s no excuse for these wars. no excuse for continuous wars !

    http://www.salon.com/2015/04/07/6_modern_day_christian_terrorist_groups_our_media_conveniently_ignores_partner/

    http://heavy.com/news/2015/12/anti-balaka-christian-extremism-terrorism-central-african-republic-car-africa-mass-muslim-islam-execution-behead-murder-mass-grave-genocide-uncensored-youtube/

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    Mute Seamus Corcoran
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    Apr 25th 2016, 9:43 AM

    They wouldn’t need the protection if the likes of Mick and Claire didn’t keep jumping the fence to try and “inspect” them.

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    Mute Michael Shannon
    Favourite Michael Shannon
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    Apr 25th 2016, 7:32 AM

    $1.2m, a drop in the ocean compared to supporting and re-electing some not all corrupt politicians!
    Lots of Irish jobs in return I am sure!

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    Mute Todd Hebert
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    Apr 25th 2016, 7:11 AM

    The u.s. should be paying that bill, or they shouldn’t be using Shannon airport!

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    Mute Charliegrl80
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    Apr 25th 2016, 9:29 AM

    Since when has Ireland been Neutral? As far as I am aware we have our Military in how many Countries? And as you are all well aware the powers that be this Country past and present do nothing for nothing, you can bet your a** that the USA are paying well more than €1.2 Million.

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    Mute von
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    Apr 25th 2016, 6:53 AM

    Ah sure this is a great little Country to do business in.

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    Mute Jason O Neill
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    Apr 25th 2016, 7:13 AM

    let them fly in and out but send them the bill for what it costs to have extra sercuity and then hire more guards to work the rest of the country. will create employment. Hold on scrap that idea no way the government could make a sensible decission.

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    Mute Black dynamite
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    Apr 25th 2016, 11:30 AM

    If the US stops flying into shannon airport the airport will probably close. There is very little traffic in and out of the airport at all

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    Mute ..
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    Apr 25th 2016, 6:59 AM

    If the US military are stopping in Shannon to refuel before blanket bombing every inch of Daesh territory then fair play. But why are they still flying troops to Iraq and Afghanistan, had they not pulled out of Afghanistan?

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    Mute OUTSIDR.ie
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    Apr 25th 2016, 7:08 AM

    Oil.

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    Mute Jason Culligan
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    Apr 25th 2016, 7:12 AM

    No, they planned on withdrawing from Afghanistan shortly after withdrawing from Iraq but the entire US Military command was repeatedly saying that neither Iraq nor Afghanistan were ready for an American withdrawal.

    Obama didn’t listen and pressed ahead with the Iraqi withdrawal. Only a few months later and Daesh had overrun a good chunk of the country and the Iraqi Military collapsed. That made the administration put the Afghanistan withdrawal ‘on hold’ for now.

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    Mute ..
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    Apr 25th 2016, 6:08 PM

    @ Jason Culligan, thanks for that your knowledge on these matters is always very insightful. Basically Obama’s electioneering and promises of a full withdrawal left the void that created IS.

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    Mute Drew TheChinaman :)
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    Apr 25th 2016, 11:14 AM

    The people causing the problems are complaining that the money spent keeping them away could be better spent elsewhere…

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    Mute Eugene Comaskey
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    Apr 25th 2016, 4:04 PM

    If Wallace , Daly and the rest of the loonies stayed away there would be no need to spend that money.

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    Mute Retired Fireman
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    Apr 25th 2016, 2:18 PM

    There are far more pressing issues than the usual shite that claire daly moans about

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    Mute Tommy Doran
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    Apr 25th 2016, 3:17 PM

    Why don’t the Irish Army protect the Airport, What else do they have to do, all 7500 of them!

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    Mute Fiona deFreyne
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    Apr 25th 2016, 8:53 AM

    The U.S. military use and exploitation of Shannon is that inconvenient truth most of us prefer to ignore. The use is not sufficiently monitored and we all suspect that extraordinary rendering has been taking place. We try to avoid knowing what is happening.

    Legally speaking, Ireland is in a sate of neutrality but it is a pro US and pro NATO neutrality.

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    Mute Larissa Caroline Nikolaus
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    Apr 25th 2016, 9:14 AM

    @Fiona, Ireland’s neutrality is in general a matter of government policy rather than a requirement of statute law

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    Mute Jason Culligan
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    Apr 25th 2016, 9:37 AM

    Exactly Larissa, it surprises me how many people think that Ireland is under some form of legal obligation to remain neutral. Many countries don’t even see Ireland as a neutral country, given our lack of legal obligation and non-existent military and supporting industry to enforce our neutrality.

    Austria, Switzerland and Sweden are all countries which had a policy or legal obligation to neutrality, had (or still have in the case of Switzerland) large military forces for self defence and have extensive military industries to provide arms and equipment without relying too much on outside suppliers.

    We lack all of that.

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    Mute Tom Purcell
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    Apr 25th 2016, 12:59 PM

    @ Fiona – Not sure where you are coming from, Yes the US military use Shannon, and subsequently a) pay for the service, 2) spend discretional moneys there – there has never been an accusation on exploitation of Shannon, so not sure where you make that claim from.

    Also your comment on Ireland been legally neutral is also inacurate – Ireland has no formal policy on neutrality other than McBride not being a member of any alliance involving Britain…

    and yes it is Pre US/pro NATO becase they are the people we need for support – for example when a Russian aircraft overflies Irish airspace it is the RAF which is scrambled to investigate (by internalional agreement) because we do not have the equipment to investigate, intercept or defend against such incursions.

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    Mute steve white
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    Apr 25th 2016, 5:25 PM

    Tom, no Russian military aircraft and flown over Irish airspace without permission.

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    Mute Bobby wilson
    Favourite Bobby wilson
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    Apr 25th 2016, 10:17 PM

    Fiona… who whould you trust to protect 26 county state UNITED NATION or NATO if under attack from a hostile nation or large scale terrorists attack..!!!

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    Mute gus sheridan
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    Apr 25th 2016, 8:19 AM

    Get the bloody Yanks to pay!

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    Mute TDV
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    Apr 25th 2016, 8:40 AM

    The US HAS BEEN USING SHANNON TO TRANSPORT THEIR CANNON FODDER, WEAPONS, RENDITITION FLIGHTS AND WHOMKNOWS WHAT ELSE SINCE WELL BEFORE 2012! THAT’S ONE HELL OF A DISGRACFUL TYPO!

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    Mute Tomás Ó Briain
    Favourite Tomás Ó Briain
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    Apr 25th 2016, 9:57 AM

    The terror threat to this country is not from Isis or Daish or Islamic State or whatever you want to call it. When the chips are down the threat will come from Britain, which planned to re-invade in the 1940s, ‘to protect their interests; America, which will do so for the same reason when it suits and other, powerful countries who do not give a damn for our rights, whether we are neutral or allied. ‘Might is right’ has been the modus vivendi of the Western powers for centuries. The only reason that Britain did not invade in the 1940s was the threat of guerilla warfare from the Irish which was what got them out of here in the first place. The ‘War On Terror’ is just escalated war of terror on civilians.

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    Mute Bobby wilson
    Favourite Bobby wilson
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    Apr 25th 2016, 10:24 PM

    Tomas…terror threat to the people in the 26 county state is from USA and BRITAIN and not desh or Islamic extremists..really. .!! Do you think thats what Irish people think too…!!!

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    Mute Fergus Moroney
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    Apr 25th 2016, 9:55 PM

    You forgot what it cost to open Limerick Jail on a Sunday to leg Sabina, who arrived in a state car, in to visit her friend who was there for defying court over her damage to a US plane. How much did all that cost? Out side of it being unconstitutional.

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    Mute Peter Fechter
    Favourite Peter Fechter
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    Apr 25th 2016, 10:25 AM

    I read every story that contains a quote from minister of justice francis fitzpatrick…shes a fantastic woman and im a big admirer.i particularly like that shes standing up to the mobs behind the recent gang murders.

    2
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