Who will challenge the Irish neutrality myth?

ONE of the arguments against the Lisbon Treaty is that it undermines our neutrality by creating a common European foreign, security and defence policy.

This argument is based on the myth that Irish people support neutrality and oppose any form of military cooperation with Europe.

For some reason, no one ever challenges this myth. The political and media establishment simply accept it as the truth, despite no evidence to back it up.

Every six months the EU conducts a survey, called Eurobarometer, where citizens from every member state are asked a series of questions about the union.

Most of the questions are the same, thus allowing for clear trends to be seen over several years.

With regard to a common European foreign and defence policy, the trends clearly show that nearly two-thirds of Irish people support a common foreign policy, more than half support a common defence policy and nearly one-third want the EU to make defence decisions.

These trends exist in a political and media environment that is hostile to discussion on military cooperation. Imagine the levels of support that could be attained for these policies in a more friendly environment?

In light of these trends, why does the political and media establishment cling to the myth that Irish people support neutrality?

Considering the majority of Irish people have given neutrality the bum’s rush, scaremongering about threats to it isn’t going to help the anti-treaty cause.

It is such a shame that no political party is brave enough to stand up for this untapped electoral constituency seeking closer military cooperation with our European friends.

I suppose half of the electorate aren’t worth listening to. What a pity. What a lost opportunity.

Jason FitzHarris

Rivervalley

Swords

Co Dublin