Southside TD blasts Defence Report as ‘attempt to soften public opinion to further erode Irish Neutrality’

A Southside TD says he believes that the Commission on the Defence Forces report published yesterday was ‘the latest attempt to soften public opinion towards further eroding Irish neutrality.’

People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett also said he was concerned at the proposed increase in expenditure on the military.

“The recommendations in this report, and the comments of Minister Coveney, are directly linked to an agenda to bring Ireland closer to NATO, further cement our place in PESCO and would bring the prospect of Ireland’s participation in a European army closer to reality. This would mean the further erosion of Irish neutrality,” Deputy Boyd Barrett said.

“The proposed increase of up to €2 billion in military spending is totally unacceptable.

“The comments in the report relating to low pay, lack of TU representation and the recruitment and retention crisis are to be welcomed.

“Many people working in the defence forces are having to rely on income supports to get by and face the same house price, rents and cost of living that the rest of us do.

“Rather than investing in increased militarisation, we should invest in providing decent pay and conditions for the defence personnel.”