Martin Daly urges EU leverage to protect Ireland's interests
Martin Daly argued that as a small trading nation Ireland must use its position in the European Union to advance national interests and protect living standards, rather than rely solely on a values-driven foreign policy. He said the country should learn from Canadian Prime Minister Carney’s trade-diversification measures and re-evaluate security and supply-chain resilience in a changed world.
Use of the European Union
Martin Daly told the minister that Ireland, because of its size and open trading economy, must negotiate through the European Union where a bloc’s collective heft can counter an international environment in which might appears to override law. He warned that attempting to act outside the EU would be "foolhardy in the extreme."
Lessons from Canada
He pointed to Canadian Prime Minister Carney’s response to coercive economic integration, noting the committed 1 trillion Canadian dollars in trade diversification and resilience measures. He listed measures highlighted by Carney - new east-west ports and rail, defence technology purchases that secure independent control, and efforts to develop markets in Europe and Asia - as examples to learn from.
Trade, industry and R&D
Martin Daly noted that the government has been investing in research and development and discussing the development of indigenous industry for years. He said Ireland should keep communications with the US open when productive and prepare for possible policy change after the mid-term elections, while not assuming a return to previous global conditions.
Security and neutrality
He cited supply-chain disruption from Russia’s war in Ukraine and a perceived US disengagement from European security as reasons for re-evaluating Ireland’s own commitment to security - "irrespective of our military neutrality," he said. He argued Europe has woken from complacency and Ireland must assess its position accordingly.
Solidarity within the EU
Martin Daly reminded the minister that the European Union has supported Ireland through modernisation, full employment, the financial crash and Brexit. He concluded that Ireland owes solidarity to other smaller EU countries that, like itself, depend on operating through a larger block.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
Minister, as a small country we're living in a time of flux and realignment. Because of our size and open trading economy we have to, as we have in the past, be prepared to navigate very uncertain times. If we ever needed reminding, we need to use our position in the European Union to negotiate with a bloc that has heft and power in an age where it appears might equals right and supersedes international law. And to those who say that our foreign policy should be solely values-driven, they are out of touch. We need, as a small trading nation, to prosecute a foreign policy that is in our national interest if we were to maintain living standards and services. In a world where large political blocs seem determined to carve up spheres of influence and control, we have to operate through the European Union. To do anything else will be foolhardy in the extreme. Canadian Prime Minister Carney has identified and pointed the way in this regard. He has alluded to the weaponisation of coercive economic integration, tariffs, financial services and supply chains. Canada is not Ireland. It is bigger, richer and has natural resources. But it has depended on the benign integration of the majority of its trade with its southern neighbour. And since that threat came 12 months ago, Prime Minister Carney has responded deftly with the committed 1 trillion Canadian dollars in trade diversification and resilience measures. New east-west ports, new east-west rail infrastructure, the purchase of defence technology that gives them control and autonomy over its use from Sweden rather than its continued dependence on the US and prepared to develop new markets in Europe and Asia. And we have to learn from this example. We have been talking for years about developing indigenous industry and this government has been investing in research and development. That is not to say we should not continue to keep our communications to our allies and friends in the US open when productive and in the event of change of policy after the mid-term elections. But it appears the world has changed and we should not depend on it going back to the way it was. We have seen the supply chain disruptions caused by Russia's aggressive war in Ukraine and a sense the US has disengaged from its long-standing commitment to the security of Europe. Whilst Europe has already woken from that complacency, we in Ireland are going to have to re-evaluate our own commitment to our own security, irrespective of our military neutrality. We have been supported from the European Union in the development of a modern, sophisticated state with full employment and during the financial crash and Brexit. We owe solidarity to the smaller countries of the European Union who, like ourselves, depend on operating through a large block. Thank you very much. Thank you.
Thank you for downloading 🙏
If you publish this material on social media, we would be very grateful if you tagged VideoParliament. It helps us reach more people and keep building a transparent archive of Irish politics.
