TDs express concern at Government pledge to join EU defence agreement
Some Independent TDs have expressed concern that a new EU agreement could put Ireland's neutrality at risk.
The Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) agreement would see a pooling of defence resources across European states.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has insisted that Ireland will only opt in to certain aspects of the agreement, such as peacekeeping.
Independent TDs including Mick Wallace are worried about what it will mean for Ireland's neutral stance.
"A Council of the European Union press release on PESCO has a promotional video which opens with the line: 'In a troubled world, citizens want to EU to offer them more protection', followed by images of fighter jets, drones and Apache helicopters, aircraft carriers, warships, all to the tune of the kind of aspirational and emotive modern classical that you get on a ad for a new Mercedes," he said.
"Apart from that, there is no detail as to what exactly it will mean for those who sign up."
.@FineGael & @fiannafailparty vote to rush decision on Ireland joining #pesco. Undermining our neutrality, committing us to greater military spending. #shame https://t.co/yqXvwne4eJ pic.twitter.com/InhpfYjjnQ
— Eamon Ryan (@EamonRyan) December 6, 2017
