Security forum participation
More deputies repeated concerns that the security forum was a Government script, excluded Opposition voices and was being used to soften opinion on neutrality. The Taoiseach insisted the forum would include wide participation, named invited neutral-state representatives, and reiterated that Opposition parties had been invited too.
On behalf of the Rural Independent Group, I also question this consultative forum on international security policy. If the Government wants to pay the Army, support it and give it proper conditions, it should do it. We do not need to have a select group up in Dublin Castle and around the country, at huge expense. It is literally a talking shop to get the answer the Government wants and to ready people for a change in our neutrality. The Tánaiste has stated numerous times that our neutrality is a rather outdated position. We know what is going on. These are the Houses of the Oireachtas to which people were elected, and it is here that we should debate this, not having these forums, as others have said, packed with people to get the desired answer, and some hangers-on from NGOs as well, of course. It is a great party and a great carry-on but it ignores once again the Members of this House who have been privileged to be duly elected to this House for the time being. It is shocking.
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I should point out that the increase in the defence budget last year was €70 million.
This is a Government that is committed to investing in our Defence Forces and making sure that they have better equipment. We have seen a significant improvement in pay in recent years and it now compares very favourably with other jurisdictions like the UK and the US, for example.
To the best of my knowledge, Opposition parties have been invited to participate in the forum. They might not have been asked to give a keynote speech, but they have been invited to participate in the forum. We would welcome that they do so.
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They can sit in the audience.
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It is here that it should be discussed.
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I would have no difficulty - nor would the Tánaiste - in the report being debated in the House. I think that is a good idea, and I think that would be entirely appropriate. I just want to confirm that representatives of all EU member states have been invited to attend the forum.
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That includes Austria, Malta and Cyprus; and representatives from Finland, Sweden, Norway and Switzerland, which is neutral, have been invited to speak as panellists.
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But they are getting to speak.