Neutrality as a weapon of mass deception
For too long the debate about Irish neutrality has been used as a weapon of mass deception, confusion and deceit by those who have very little idea what they are talking about.
The internationally-accepted definition of neutrality is non-participation in a war between other states, the maintenance of an impartial attitude towards the belligerents and, during peacetime, not doing anything which would make neutrality impossible during wartime.
Mr Cowen states that the Government’s policy of neutrality only means non-membership of military alliances. He also states that Ireland is not a signatory to the Hague Conventions, which define in detail the rights and duties of a neutral country.
The minister does not say that Ireland refuses to participate in war. He has therefore admitted that Ireland is a not a neutral country according to the internationally accepted definition, but is in reality a non-aligned country.
While on the one hand I welcome the minister finally admitting the truth to the Irish people (and a truthful politician is rare in this coalition), I am disappointed that the Government has persistently refused to let the Irish electorate settle this neutrality question once and for all.
Firstly, the Government reneged on their election promise (not the last broken election promise) to hold a referendum on membership of the Partnership for Peace. Not that the PfP conflicts with neutrality, as Switzerland became a member without a referendum.
Secondly, the Government claimed that the first Nice referendum was rejected because of neutrality when, in fact, it was rejected because most voters had no idea what they were voting for.
Then they made a big song and dance about the wonderful Seville declaration and linked a so-called clause on neutrality with the Nice Treaty thereby denying the electorate the option to vote ‘yes’ to Europe and ‘no’ to neutrality.
And then the Taoiseach had the nerve to brag that the copperfastening of neutrality saved the Nice Treaty, when there was no such copperfastening in the first place.
Thirdly, the Government has repeatedly blocked every private members bill that would have amended the constitution to insert an article on neutrality thereby denying the electorate an opportunity to resolve this issue in a referendum.
I look forward to the referendum on the European constitution and I hope that Mr Cowen, unlike in the second Nice referendum, will allow the Irish electorate to vote ‘yes’ to Europe, ‘no’ to the abandonment of neutrality and once and for all to dump this policy of moral cowardice.
Jason FitzHarris,
5, Forest Boulevard,
Rivervalley,
Swords,
Co Dublin.
