Ireland ready to end century of neutrality, says MP

IRELAND could drop its policy of military neutrality after almost a century because of anger over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it was claimed.

Neale Richmond, Fine Gael’s European Affairs spokesman, said public opinion was changing “in the face of Vladmir Putin’s war machine” and Ireland could join Nato in the long term.

“He has potentially forced Ireland to abandon a 100-year strategy of [neutrality],” the Dublin Rathdown MP said.

“Just because you say you are neutral, it doesn’t really matter [to Russia]. Ukraine was neutral,” Mr Richmond, whose party is one of two in Ireland’s coalition government, said.

Ireland remained neutral during the

‘Just because you say you are neutral, it doesn’t really matter to Russia. Ukraine was neutral’

Second World War and the Cold War but Mr Richmond said that ditching neutrality was no longer a “niche opinion” after television images of the suffering of Ukranians.

The government is under pressure to supply Ukraine with weapons rather than just non-lethal supplies. Legislation would need to be passed to remove Ireland’s “triple lock” if neutrality was given up. Soldiers can only be deployed abroad with government backing, parliament and a UN resolution, but Russia, as a permanent member of the Security Council, can veto UN resolutions.

He added, “In the long term I could absolutely see Ireland joining Nato.”

Non-aligned Sweden and Finland, which have sent weapons to Ukraine, have seen growing public support for joining Nato since the invasion.

Dublin needed to be able to “honestly contribute” to plans for common EU defence, Mr Richmond said.