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TÁNAISTE MICHEÁL MARTIN has responded to claims by President Michael D Higgins that “Ireland is playing with fire” in a “drift” away from neutrality.
In an interview with the Business Post Higgins spoke about his views on the impending Consultative Forum on international security policy.
In a strongly worded rebuke of the Government’s move ahead of the public engagement discussion on foreign policy the president said: “the most dangerous moment in the articulation and formulation of foreign policy and its practice, since the origin of diplomacy, has been when you’re drifting and not knowing what you’re doing”.
“I would describe our present position as one of drift.”
In relation to the Consultative Forum he criticised the various panels claiming they were stocked with “the admirals, the generals, the air force, the rest of it” and also of former neutral countries that have now joined NATO.
Finland has joined but Sweden’s membership has stalled as Turkey is blocking it in a dispute over Kurdistan.
Higgins asked why there was no representation from still-neutral countries such as Austria and Malta.
The president also criticised the European Union for, what he termed, was a more military aligned posture.
“Any time that Ireland puts itself behind the shadows of previous empires within the European Union it loses an opportunity of expanding and enhancing and using its influence for the world,” he said.
Higgins also said he was distressed about the reduction in the influence of the United Nations on world events.
In a statement this afternoon, Tánaiste and Minister for Defence and Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin hit back at the president without mentioning his name.
He said the consultative forum was “not a binary” discussion on Ireland’s military neutrality.
“I am proud to be part of, and to have lead, a Government that has been particularly ambitious in exerting Ireland’s influence abroad,” he said.
Martin spoke about Irish successes on the international stage including membership of the UN Security Council, it’s multilateral approach as well as a host of other achievements such as the Good Friday Agreement.
“Ireland has had an impact and made a difference.
“Since Russia’s brutal and illegal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which blatantly violated the UN Charter and international law and fundamentally altered the European security environment, every country in Europe has examined and re-examined its foreign, security and defence policies.
“Ireland is no different. To shy away from doing so – or to do so behind closed doors – would have been a fundamental mistake and an abrogation of responsibility,” he added.
Martin said it was a “fundamental” duty of Government to address the “challenging global situation as it is today”.
“Political leadership means taking on the responsibility of putting in place policies and practises to keep this country, and its people, safe and secure. In my view, it also means having an open, inclusive, evidence-based and public debate on these issues.
“The Consultative Forum on International Security Policy is the first time that any Irish Government has established such a debate.
“It will discuss a range of issues relating to the global and European security environment and how Ireland’s foreign, security and defence policy is responding to this new environment,” he added.
In his statement, Martin referenced that 900 people had signed up for the events in Cork, Galway and Dublin. He called on interested people to send a submission with their views.
He said that the 80 panelists were from a wide range of backgrounds and with a variety of expertise and experience. These include peacekeeping and peacebuilding experts, arms control and disarmament and conflict resolution on an international basis.
He said the Forum would also discuss cyber security, disinformation, maritime security and critical infrastructure.
“The aim of this Forum from the start has been to prompt a national discussion on Ireland’s foreign, security and defence policy. We want to hear from as many people as possible, with a diverse range of experiences, expertise and views. This is a conversation for everyone,” he added.
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The public are against multinational commercial wind farms where the energy is sold to us, not wind energy itself.
Cooperatives like cloughjordan are an example of how beneficial and sustainable these community wind farms are
Nice soundbites, pity you don’t care about policy or facts. Millions will die from global warming but you’d rather stick to your narrow ideology than embrace change.
You mentioned the public are cautious of multinationals selling electricity to us from wind farms. Did you know ESBI is a multinational and owns quite a few wind farms outside of Ireland?? AND, who do you think really owns ESBI??
When the weather turns really bad and the price of electricity goes through the roof, they’ll be begging for the turbine to be erected.
We need change there is no doubt about that but wind turbines are not the way forward.
So what would you propose should be the way forward?? Let us all understand one thing. At this point any renewable energy is an alternative energy, not a primary energy. And please please don’t start with Nuclear energy is the way to go. That’s crap
That’s real internet hard talk David. Community participation is standard in the more civilised energy economies in Europe.
Any chance we could think outside the box for our energy in the future???? What’s the obsession with wind when we have other alternatives, looking more like cartels want to keep renewables to themselves instead of promoting this….. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=839925169365885&id=728257720532631&post_id=728257720532631_839925169365885#
Stanley. There are plenty of renewable energy sources that are miles ahead of wind. Wave energy being one. There are two irish companies pioneering ocean based renewable technology which far exceeded expectatioms and is far ahead of wind aswell. They had to go to scandinavia to test it because the irish government wouldn’t give them permission to test in irish waters. Osmosis is another one which is far ahead of wind energy.
Oh and btw nuclear is a much more efficient option than wind energy.
Eamon Ryan refused to do the legally binding SEA and CBA for windfarms. He is ignorant of engineering and while he may have good intentions at heart his policies have brought disaster to Ireland.
It’s a pity they didn’t cut their prices two !
Yes, it is a pity they didn’t cut their prices in two.
We are subsidising these wind turbines in a PEAK OIL market – despite all the waffle of the past decade… we need renewables because peak oil will put the price of energy beyond reach… to cloak the huge gap between the price of turbine energy and fossil fuels, they applied a carbon tax.
Remove the carbon tax and you would hardly notice the $100 barrel price.
I’d say Eamon Ryan is a wow at parties
He’s a great cure for insomnia!
If they could cut the ESB bills, like the Co2 emissions we be happy!
Eamons dream is a nightmare for the ordinary Joe soap. Cut carbon emission by what…with led technology and cfc bulbs coupled with A rated appliances most house holds have reduced their energy consumption. Wind farm did not reduce the carbon bill on its owen and that’s what’s wrong with Eamon he only sees the top level and always did. What anoys most is reduced energy consumption by the individual and carbon material intake equals an ever increasing energy bill. Why.
Every house hold has to stump up how much for this crap?
Is that why my PSO is going up again
PSO is 2 thirds gas and Peat, 1 third wind.
Wind is Ireland’s second cheapest electricity generation technology (after hydro).
59% of PSO due to wind
Hi, I think it is 28% for next year.
94m out of 335m.
Alan M.
If that much has been saved, where is the reduction in the pso levy or electricity tax????
“serious about transitioning to 100% decarbonised energy in Ireland.”
This statement proves Eamon Ryan does not know anything about energy systems. Its no wonder we are we are now.
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