Gilmore: Neutrality threat a blatant lie

THE Lisbon treaty poses no threat to Ireland’s neutrality, and any claim to the contrary is a blatant lie, Labour’s Eamon Gilmore has said.

Nothing in the document provides for Ireland being forced into “imperialist adventures,” he stressed.

Labour launched a document yesterday outlining 15 examples of how the treaty respected Irish neutrality.

“Every single development in the history of the EU since 1973 has been depicted by some group or another in the most alarmist terms as a threat to Irish neutrality, and they are at it again now in relation to the Lisbon reform treaty,” said Mr Gilmore.

As an example, he cited a statement by Gerry Adams in May 2001, when the Sinn Féin president claimed the Nice treaty would “undermine Irish sovereignty, relegate the country to the second division of a two-tier Europe and compromise the state’s neutrality by bringing it into NATO through a European army”.

Mr Gilmore said this had proved to be a “totally groundless” claim.

“Irish neutrality has not been compromised. And the claims being made by Sinn Féin in the current campaign will prove to be just as baseless,” he added.

“Not only do the provisions of the Lisbon reform treaty not pose any threat to Irish neutrality, but I believe that they will actually enable Ireland to play an enhanced role in the world.”

He pointed to the area of international aid to make his case, saying the treaty would provide the necessary basis for EU action on world development issues.

The treaty also allowed for the enhancement of the EU’s role in international crisis prevention, with peacekeeping missions the main focus.

“Nothing in this treaty provides for conscription or for Ireland being forced into wars or imperialist adventures,” said Mr Gilmore.

“The present position, where the EU is involved in essential peacekeeping... represents the reality.”

In any case, the so-called “triple lock” on the use of the Irish Defences Forces would not be affected by the treaty, he pointed out.

The triple lock means Irish troops can be deployed abroad only when there is a UN mandate and approval of both the Government and the Dáil.

Mr Gilmore’s comments were echoed by Defence Minister Willie O’Dea, who said the treaty did not change Ireland’s policy of neutrality “in any shape or form”.

“Ireland cannot join a common European defence structure unless it is first approved by the Irish people in a separate referendum on this issue,” said Mr O’Dea.