Republican News · Thursday 20 February 2003

Arthur Morgan

NATO troops are in Ireland

"Some of the contributions to this debate both inside and outside the Dáil are worthy of walk-on parts in comedy shows like David Brent's The Office. 'What would Ireland's position be,' we were asked, 'if one the EU states were occupied by a foreign invader'.

Well firstly, one is currently occupied. It's called Ireland and it is NATO troops who are occupying it. For the less informed deputies, of which there are many on this issue, that's British troops.

So what would we do, we were asked, if we had neutrality in our Constitution? What could we do, I ask, throw stones at them? Besides, it's a bogus scenario. It is much more likely that European troops will be active outside the borders of the EU rather than defending them if the EU warmongers get their way.

We have really managed to call the government's bluff on this occasion.

All through Nice 1 and 2 debates, the government told the Irish people that Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats were in favour of neutrality.

Well, the cat is well and truly out of the bag now and we all know just how pro-NATO you are.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael backbenchers have one last chance to preserve that last ounce of integrity and vote with us on this bill."