Boyd Barret says government Consultative Forum on International Security Policy “a ready-up” to erode Irish neutrality

People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett has said that the government’s proposed Consultative Forum on International Security Policy is “a ready-up” designed with an intended outcome of eroding Irish neutrality.

The TD, speaking a head of the Dáil debate on the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy, which he requested and secured at the Dáil Business Committee, said that the forum ‘could not be impartial.’

Deputy Boyd Barrett also made the point that the chair of the forum, Louise Richardson DBE, a Dame of the British Empire, is ‘clearly not an impartial voice’ as she has clearly identified with US foreign and military policy in her writing on the invasion of Afghanistan by the United States, as well as coups in Latin America.

The TD also pointed out statements made by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael on the issue of the Triple Lock and Irish neutrality.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said that neutrality is a policy that can change at any time subject to the Oireachtas or government of the day, and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that he does not agree with the Triple Lock.

“This forum is a ready-up and is being set up with a clear agenda- that is to reach a conclusion that the government desires,” Deputy Boyd Barrett said.

“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are clearly trying to erode what is left of Irish neutrality.

“The government has destroyed any semblance of credibility that this forum has in the selection of Dame Louise Richardson as its chair.

“Her views on imperialism, and US foreign policy have been made abundantly clear.

“The selection of her as chair and the stated views of the government parties on neutrality clearly show that this forum is not consultative and is purely about reaching the desired outcome that the government want.

“It is also abundantly clear that the government are using the Ukraine invasion by Russia- a cruel, barbaric, and unjust war, as the thin end of the wedge to abandon neutrality, which has been on the agenda of Fine Gael for years.

“Micheál Martin was also a Minister in the Fianna Fáil government in 2003 that allowed over 2 million US troops use of Shannon Airport to prosecute the barbaric and murderous war in Iraq- a war that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.

“The record of both the main parties makes clear that they have been intent on destroying Irish neutrality.”