Ireland needs to 'reflect' on military neutrality — Taoiseach

Micheál Martin said Ireland needed an 'informed, evidence-based approach' to deciding on military neutrality

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: "I've consistently said we need to reflect on military nonalignment in Ireland and our military neutrality. We are not politically neutral." Picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin

Ireland must have an evidence-based reflection on its military neutrality, the Taoiseach has said.

Speaking in Strasbourg where he addressed the European Parliament, Michéal Martin responded to comments from Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, who said he was confident a referendum on Irish involvement in an EU army would be passed by the Irish public.