As the Taoiseach will be aware, this country has a long and honourable tradition of military neutrality. It is a policy enshrined in the Constitution and it has served the country well, particularly in the context of the regard and respect that Irish peacekeeping troops enjoy all over the world. It is also important from a diplomatic point of view as the country is seen as an honest broker that is not militarily aligned to any side. Does the Government propose to ask the Irish people to jettison that policy to enable this country to join a military alliance?

No, there is no decision on that. No one has considered it. From time to time, in terms of a broader issue, there has been talk about it, and I have suggested the convening of a citizens' assembly if people want to discuss the wide-ranging nature of that, but "No" is the answer.