Dublin TD’s weigh in on NATO debate

DUBLIN TD’s have weighed in on the debate surrounding Ireland potentially joining NATO, with the debate heating up following President Higgins’ comments to the Sunday Business Post last weekend.

President Michael D Higgins stated that Ireland is “playing with fire” regarding the possibility of Ireland joining NATO, and believes that current government policy represents a dangerous “drift” in Ireland’s foreign policy.

The idea of Ireland potentially joining NATO has been brought to the forefront since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, and the Government are holding forums on international security and defence policy at a number of events across the country.

Higgins’ comments set off something of a firestorm across the Irish media, with political representatives across the political spectrum weighing in on the debate.

An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said at the News Xchange vote in Dublin on Monday “one thing I can be very, very clear about is Ireland isn’t going to join NATO. That’s not on the agenda of this government,” but defended the idea of holding the forums.

Varadkar’s comments on NATO seem to stand in opposition to coalition partner and Tánaiste Micheál Martin, who has said it would be a “fundamental mistake” if Ireland shied away from re-examining Ireland’s defence policy.

Dún Laoghaire TD Richard Boyd Barrett has voiced his objections to Ireland potentially joining the alliance, with the People Before Profit TD claiming that the forum was a “total stitch-up.”

Mr. Boyd-Barrett said he “wouldn’t trust Micheál Martin as far as I could throw him with Irish neutrality” at an event held in Liberty Hall on Monday night.

Dublin Rathdown TD Neale Richmond, discussing the issue on RTÉ, said that Higgins’ comments did not cross a line, and stated “foreign affairs policy will, of course, be driven by the government and indeed by the Oireachtas. I recognise President Higgins’ comments, they are well-held, decades-held opinions and comments.”

The Minister of State added: “He certainly goes close to the line to be honest, but we do recognise and the one thing when I read the report initially this morning I was a little bit disappointed, but I’ve now come full circle.”

“We want people to engage in this consultative forum starting this week. We’ve already seen 900 registering, we’ve already seen 300 submissions.”

“So let’s have that debate, let’s have that discussion. It’s not a binary decision. We want all voices to be heard, and more importantly, to be felt like they’ve been heard as well,” the Fine Gael TD said.

Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon said “there is a genuine fear that we are drifting towards NATO.”

The Dublin Central TD said, “I think the make-up of some of the speakers who are taking part in these forums seem to have a very pro-NATO voice.”

“When we talk about pro-neutrality, positive neutrality, we can’t step away from the fact that Ireland has a very proud tradition that we are neutral but never indifferent.”

An Irish Times/Ipsos opinion poll of 1200 people found that 61% of those polled were in favour of maintaining Ireland’s current military policy of pursuing neutrality, while 26% of those surveyed would like to see a change in Ireland’s set-up.

Dublin figures from the poll showed that 58% of those polled were in favour of the current set-up, while the number of those who would like to see a change to the set-up rose to 31%.