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GOVERNMENT WILL NOT oppose a Seanad motion which calls for a guarantee of Ireland’s status as a militarily neutral state.
The motion states that Ireland’s neutral status should be guaranteed by way of a constitutional guarantee, calling for a recognition that Ireland’s membership of any military alliance “would immediately diminish and undermine our international reputation”.
The motion also calls for Ireland to retain its political discretion to support any member of the international community in crisis, but with the protection of the triple-lock
mechanism.
Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said over the weekend that moving away from the triple-lock system for sending Defence Force’s troops on missions abroad would be “a sensible change”.
Currently, to send more than 12 Irish troops abroad, there needs to be approval by the Government, approval by the Dáil and a UN Resolution to mandate the mission.
The motion, which states that Ireland’s military neutrality remains a central and invaluable component of our foreign policy since the foundation of the State, is being proposed by the Seanad Independent group and is being supported by all opposition groups.
Senators Tom Clonan, Michael McDowell, Victor Boyhan, Sharon Keogan, Rónán Mullen, David Norris, Lynn Boylan, Paul Gavan, Niall Ó Donnghaile, Fintan Warfield, Fiona O’Loughlin, Frances Black, Eileen Flynn, Alice-Mary Higgins, Lynn Ruane have all backed the motion which will be heard in the Seanad today.
It states that Ireland’s military neutrality makes the country a “unique voice for peace and reconciliation throughout the world”.
The motion also calls for the Government to recognise that the country’s military neutrality “is highly valued and cherished by the citizens of Ireland”.
The text of the motion also states:
“In a time of increased political and military instability in Europe, with the invasion of
Ukraine, and in a time of global de-stabilisation and accelerating climate change, our
military neutrality is more important than ever.”
It goes on to call on the Government to properly fund the army, air corps, navy and cyber security, as well as pay soldiers, aircrew and sailors a living wage.
A Minister for Defence, with an exclusive portfolio, should also be established, it states.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin addressed the comments made by Coveney in relation to the triple-lock mechanism in the Dáil yesterday, stating that the Government “has no intention of changing its current policy in respect of military neutrality”.
“There is no galloping towards new alliances or anything like it,” he said, adding that Coveney referenced the triple lock more in the context of the need for reform of the United Nations, in particular the veto Russia has at the Security Council.
“Let us be straight about it. The outrageous attack on Ukraine is, by any objective yardstick, an appalling, inhuman and immoral attack on the people of Ukraine, yet the country that is doing that is on the Security Council,” said Martin.
He said scrapping the triple-lock mechanism is not in the programme for Government.
“I do not believe in removing it. I believe we should have a citizens’ assembly to discuss all these issues in a more informed way, which I have said,” the Taoiseach said.
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For the last 6-12 months polls have consistently shown that 70-80 percent of the population believe we have now taken in enough/too much.
Yet every party in the Dail – bar some independents agree with the “international legal obligations” line
Simply labelling people “far right” for having entirely legitimate concerns is not going to make for a contented electorate
@Gerry Kelly: Water off a ducks back at this stage!
I’ll be voting for an Independent next time (looks like there won’t be any shortage of them) They were the only people who brought what everyone is thinking to the Dail floor, and the rest of the cowards stifled it!
How come comments opened on McDonald interview, but not O’Gorman’s interview?
@AnthonyK: this page is embarrassing how far it leans to the left now
@AnthonyK: because the journal allows criticism of opposition parties while never allowing comments critical of government parties…actually sad how government led the journal has become…suppose their failed venture asking their readers for money and government proposals to pay the media is what swung them..journal are actually easy targets when you want to get good publicity for a 2 billion over target new hospital etc. they invite the journals churnalists for a tour and they always deliver with zero criticism
@AnthonyK: I assume if they did have comments open for O’Gorman’s interview people like you would have a good old rant and try spreading a bit more of your fake news and untruths about.
@Shane Doyle: Absolute rubbish…in every way.
It’ll drop further as election day nears. Voters will want to protect their net pay, jobs and economic future.
@Frank Heffernan: protect our net pay,,,,? lol, they take a quarter of our wages every week in taxes already, and our economy is f@cked over inflation and it’s near impossible for younger generations to get anywhere near the property ladder,
@CP: population increasing faster than GDP = low wages, high property prices/high rents. Suits certain people
@Fran Ken: yeh as usual the well off being looked after and making lots of cash
@Frank Heffernan: Frank, you forgot the value of their homes. The Shinners want to devalue homes by 30%, from 430K to 300K. Builders will be forced to take a pay cut, developers and builders will be “shaving” corners to try to reach the Shinner target. Property crash on the way if the Shinners get in.
@CP: ….and wait till sf come after the other 75% of it to pay for all the fairy story promises!!! They would make the current situation look like heaven!!
@Chris Gaffney: well the current lot seem to take taxes at every turn, we’re taxed to the balls on everything we do, rip off republic created by FF/Fg. can’t get much worse than it is already, we cant even inherit money with them wanting a chunk.
@CP: Wait till you see what sf will do to inheritance and other taxes on “the rich”!!
Poor Mary Lou must be dizzy swinging so wildly in all directions trying to be all things to all voters. An absolute calamity of a party.
Buyer beware.
@honey badger: It is delightful watching them fall apart. They are comical at this stage. In another year they will be down below 25%!!!
@David: and they you are again, derailing a thread. Was there mass murder in Israel on Oct 7th too?
@honey badger: and what are ffg, if not a disaster??
Although I have concerns for voting for sf I am absolutely convinced that the grift and the entitled hubris practice by 120 odd year’s of ffg in power, needs to be halted
@Robert Halvey: and you honestly think this is the best way to go about it?
@Mary Looners: He is exercising his democratic opinion, just because you don’t agree with it, doesn’t make it antidemocratic!
@Alan: the fact he can vote for who he likes is very democratic. You will also get that right.
@Paul Fahey: all he has to do is to provide a single shred of evidence to prove that sf are any better than the current shower..
Just promise more free everything for the scroungers and all will be well.
SF support is made up of two groups who have very little in common; (1) the traditional republican faction whose priority is the dream of a united Ireland and who are essentially catholic/nationalists and (2) the new ultra woke wing for whom abortion, transgenderism and other woke issues are top priority. When the traditionalists wake up to the fact that the ultra woke faction have high jacked the party there will be a split. That may not happen until they are in Government and show their true colors. They are slow learners.
@Nodon: all about the transgenderism and abortion alright, nothing to do with the near 0% chance of ever owning a home for young voters.
@Nodon: THIS comment had a lot of truth to it. Its also flawed, since theres a faction who are socially liberal, fairly nationalist but aghast at how regressive Ireland still is in terms of infrastructure & public services, conservative when it comes to immigration or others. these people are not bigots or deluded as to Europe today or Ireland, and growing increasingly sick of how much they’ve been gaslit. sadly, the same convictions that left with the people getting no change it leads to more ghastly figures such as Geert Wilders who has EVENTUALLY scored well in an election
“WE NEED YOUR HELP RIGHT NOW”
“Support from people like you keeps the journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value, independent, unbiased news that tells the truth”.
Comments left wide open for the continued abuse of SF, while closing down ROG story!!!
All things Russian were wide open for Abuse but every single story on Israel’s mass murder campaign are closed.
All comments on Joe Biden support for 2 wars are closed down too, while all Donald Trump stories again left wide open.
NO, Journal, you clearly display bias on a lot of topics.
@David: The comments here are both pro and anti SF, and people are free to reference the ROG article, just like you have. Similarly, people like yourself are free to discuss Israel in the comment section of various articles. I don’t think you can accuse the journal of being pro Israel – I suspect they close the comments because of rampant anti semitism, not because of those critical of the Israeli states’s actions in Gaza
@David: the fact you cannot see you are one of the very reasons comments are closed on most threads is laughable. You know when you deny what happened on Oct 7 and leave anti Semitic tropes and conspiracies all over any subject matter the Journal have little choice but to act.
@David: not a word about Dublin refusing to use the word “Christmas” in its Christmas lights display for fear of “upsetting someone”
Aren’t all polls like this accurate to + or – 3%, so probably no change in support whatsoever. They’ll likely get huge vote in election, but not enough for a majority, so ffg will likely get in again and bring the greens on board to let them take the blame for all the climate taxes while they’re busy ensuring average people’s real wages go down while they enrich themselves and their buddies. Only in Ireland would people vote for parties that ensure their kids can’t afford a home and their real wages go down every year
@Eddie Garvey: All the Greens will be lucky to get on a community employment scheme after the next election.
@Eddie Garvey: Possibly 3% lower support now in the ongoing downward trend in their support – you shouldn’t assume otherwise. Also note that there hasn’t been a large scale opinion poll since SF’s disastrous misstep in politicising the riot in Dublin within hours of it happening. The public realise that continually blaming the current Government, no matter the issue, is not a long term vote winning strategy or a sign of real leadership ability.
@Eddie Garvey: ultimately, but not immediately I’d imagine there will be much more division in Ireland moving forwards if such a situation happens because the frustrated, abused electorate who’ve seen people like Martin, leo, Mcetee and even Regina doherty continue to rig their way back to LOOSE power, they’re over the lies and let downs now.
@Finn Barr: hopefully
Don’t go after middle-class money and you’ll be grand. Inheritance is one drum to stop banging.
@Thesaltyurchin: inheritance tax has to be one of the most ludicrous things, totally wrong IMO, your not allowed to gain wealth in Ireland without being fleeced
@Thesaltyurchin:
Said the same myself here a few weeks back inheritance tax is one of the most disliked taxes there is.
I believe SF announcing their intention to increase it has hit their popularity significantly.
@CP: there’s plenty of stiff competition for which taxes are worse – for me the 21% taxes we pay on so many everyday items under the guise of so called value added tax is a real stickler , living in Ireland we are paying the highest costs on everything from cars , mobile , internet , insurance , mortgage rates the list is endless , and number of taxes levies excise duties are all paying into a bloated inefficient state “exchequer” – the most technically efficient department is of course Revenue – the can process 5 million people tax liabilities in a day – but can’t manage to streamline pretty much ANY other department using technology – health , legal , transport -all 18th century levels of administrative structures – but taxes and revenue – best in class .
@Dave Hammond: 100%
@Dave Hammond: Bad news for you Dave, it’s actually 23%.
@CP: You have a comment above about how the well off are looked after and yet here you are saying their estate shouldn’t be taxed which is giving the well off’s dependents a head start over others not receiving inheritance. If you are left wing you should support inheritance taxes.
@The next small thing. My thinking was that if someones parents passed away in the morning, whatever they leave their kids they will pay a collosal tax on. From a family who has worked all their lives and payed their taxes is that not wrong in your opinion? I see your point ok in what you are saying also, I didn’t think of that side of it
@P.J. Nolan: significantly is going a bit too far imo. People are very demoralised, there is no escaping it in modern Ireland and they do not know which way will really garner the results moving forwards. One thing is for sure, we have A LOT OF further maturity to be doing and need to stop lumping people into narrow boxes like ‘left wing’ ‘too conservative’ ..otherwise we will end up even further divided
The challenge for Sinn Féin is its redefinition as either a republican or nationalist party. Idealogically speaking it’s not possible to be both. Republicanism is a global ideaology whereas nationalism needs borders.
@Chris Curran: They’re like all the rest of them- they’ll tell us what we want to hear before the election, then do whatever they like after it.
@finn barr: that’s what labour’s Pet Rabbit said a few years ago. Promise everything till you get elected and come up with excuses after.
Unfortunately they still have a hard core of blindly loyal, uneducated sheep with short memories and an ability to swallow populist claptrap.
People wising up finally
@Derek O Gorman: keeping the blueshirts in power is foolish, reckless and will harm Ireland severely. same with FF & greens
@Sean oSuilleabhain: You obviously haven’t a clue of the damage a sf government will bring to the investment climate here which will cost jobs and reduce the level of tax monies for spending on the areas needed like housing, health etc. This is obvious to most people who care!!
@Chris Gaffney: it seems to me that as ever you’re one of the psychics, whereas I have lived under fg ff my whole life and imagine HAVING A DIFFERENT OPINION also its extraordinary to keep playing the corporate card for fg considering what it has done to keep Ireland regressive, how much of an economic wasteland they and FF have in the past left parts of rural Ireland
ps I DO CARE, cheers for it tho pal and merry xmas back
@Sean oSuilleabhain: Glad to hear you care. Merry Christmas.
@Chris Gaffney: merry xmas ya filthy animal
@Sean oSuilleabhain: Back to Disneyland with you!!
@Chris Gaffney: aren’t you clever!? NO. Disneyland isnt a place for blueshirts mind you, they’re so utterly joyless and lacking morals
That’s what happens when you support terrorists, immigration and Muslims.
You drop in opinion.
But Irish love terrorists even if they aren’t Irish so it’s not a big drop.
All the current government are in denial over the migrant situation in this country they are distroying communities right across Ireland as soon as they all agreed on open borders they were doomed the majority of this country all agree we are full but people don’t want to be branded right wing or racist so FF FG and SF will be sorted out in the polling stations in the next election .
Dave Hammond made the claim above that in Ireland we are “paying the highest costs on everything from cars , mobile , internet , insurance , mortgage rates the list is endless”.
I checked the comparisons for cars, mobile and Internet. I stopped after that having discovered that what Dave said was completely incorrect.
@Sun Rise: costs of energy, insurance and CERTAIN telecomms providers ARE substantially higher here than in mainland Europe.the amount of businesses I know even in Dublin’s towns which have closed as the rent is too expensive for them to stay open with FG putting their attention squarely on the tech creeps, its wrong regardless
A Shinner mouths about the current government and the the ‘genuine’ harm it has done to this country. I suppose murdering innocent people through acts of terrorism are acts not considered ‘genuine’ enough to be mentioned when it comes to causing damage. Typical Shinner.
Am I am the only one to notice that SF no longer describes itself as a Socialist Party? Or that it intends to make Ireland a Democratic Socialist Republic? I often try and remember all the splits that have occurred within SF since the early 1970s to date. I would suggest many many of its hard-core traditional supporters/members will struggle with the necessary compromises it will need to make to be in government. Of course SF had strong links with the Nazis during WW2.
@Paul Guckian:
Sure the nazis weren’t all bad, just not rootlessly efficient enough, alas, a bit like snakey hole egomaniac Dev and his condolences etc!
Sure how about them Blueshirts going off to fight for Franco, Mussolini and most likely Shitler too just less blatantly as O’Duffy’s flagrant fascist minions leaving Galway for Spain!!
@Paul Guckian: so have ff, during and after the war
They should most definitely be given a term to see how they do.
Its only common sense to change what we have at the moment because FFG are ruining the country, you dont me to rattle off figures. We all know the country’s in a bad state.
Keep doing what you’re doing and you’ll keep getting what you’re getting.
We cant have more of FFG with record numbers of everything bad.
Just put 1 and 2 for SF reps
@Denis Rathsallagh Brady: No,No,No. It will plunge the country back 30 years!!
@Chris Gaffney:
Based on what exactly??….. number 11 Downer St having a financial veto over the overall administration of The North or the unwarranted fears and dread of the O’Briens et al who’s bought and paid for old school chums won’t be making most commercial and free marketing exploitative rules and laws in their favour perpetually!?
Or just the West-brit qusling’s deep-rooted dread that Ireland might be run for the good of the vast majority of it’s citizens and not just the ‘early-risers’ of the leafy snobburbs of Castleknock, Foxrock and Rathgar etc etc!?
Any shortsighted goons with that attidude are welcome to start shipping out soon as….Teigh in ainm an diabháil mar níor na raidharc níos airde ar ba ba thearr lear! TÁL ;@}
@Joe Meade: Sorry, but that sort of babble doesn’t even warrant a response!
Need a shake up
as a member of the party i WILL concede they increasingly have policies I don’t align with and having said that its disappointing to see the drop because it benefits an establishment who’ve done so much genuine harm to this country. many going against SF over the issues pertaining to November’s violence are of the mind that voting to keep SF OUT will support their family’s lives whatsoever is misled. seriously so.
stop forgetting the FINE GAEL thuggery people!
Shame on the people who vote this government back in.
Sinn Fein have two big things in their favour. The fact that they haven’t been in government before and conversely the current government parties between them have been there a lot and that the current government has just shown a complete unwillingness to address the housing crisis with the seriousness and speed that has been required for a number of years. In short they don’t really see it as a crisis. Sinn Fein don’t give me much confidence they will actually solve anything but we know that the current government won’t so they will get their shot at it. They way they reacted in such an opportunistic and cynical way to the riots a few weeks ago so out of touch with the feeling on the ground and in tandem with that their stance on immigration that a lot of their followers are only waking up to recently will cause them some problems down the line.
@Sean oSuilleabhain:
“paying the highest costs on everything from cars , mobile , internet , insurance , mortgage rates the list is endless”
Spin it whatever you wish to in your Shinneresque manner but the above statement is incorrect. Stop being so disingenuous.
@Sun Rise: Bonkers would argue with you totally. as would I. because they highlight the facts. OICHE MHAITH
@Sun Rise: check your facts
@Joe Kelly: a lot of people willing to put a biased slant that justifies Irish costs even as the powers that shouldnt be practically guarantee they will be fleeced
@Alan Cooke: you’ve a neck on you saying that too me. Neither left nor right in my political views. Basically, a spade is a spade.
have your say