Mattie McGrath criticises one-sided support for Ukraine, backs amendment
Mattie McGrath spoke during the debate about Ireland's response to the war in Ukraine and the country's neutrality. He said he would support the amendment moved by Dr Thomas Pringle and voiced strong concerns about one-sided support and the absence of public consultation.
Support for Ukrainian refugees
He praised Ireland's response to people fleeing the war, saying communities, volunteers and community centres opened their homes and supported arrivals. He referenced what he described as "mid-70s, maybe 75,000 or 7,000" refugees and recalled inviting the Ukrainian ambassador to meet some of them.
Criticism of one-sided support
He criticised what he called an unseemly, one-sided support for Ukraine and warned that Ireland had "dived in" beyond what it could properly sustain. He said the state should stick to humanitarian aid and expressed discomfort with showing support only to one side in the conflict.
Neutrality and public consultation
He defended Ireland's neutrality under Article 29 and argued it continues to be respected internationally. He said the people have not been consulted on changes to neutrality and criticised the government as being "cobbled together" without a clear mandate to alter that stance.
International comparisons and peacekeeping record
He invoked Ireland's long record of peacekeeping, mentioning the Congo and current deployments such as Lebanon, to underline the country's traditional role in international peace efforts. He contrasted the response to Ukraine with what he described as muted reactions to the invasion of Iraq and violence in Nigeria and other African countries.
Voting intention
He stated he would not support the motion before the House and confirmed he would back the amendment moved by Dr Thomas Pringle. He closed by reiterating his disappointment with how the debate had transpired and his concerns about the government's approach.
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I am glad to be able to stay towards the debate, but I am disappointed in the way it has transpired. I will certainly be supporting the amendment moved by Dr Thomas Pringle. I too want to say that we have welcomed the mid-70s, maybe 75,000 or 7,000 refugees to Ireland. And the Dean Ferdinand here have opened their arms and houses and everything, and indeed the communities and community centres and everything else, in a sense of a mehel, and supporting our colleagues from Ukraine who are fleeing the most heinous and desperate war. I want to state that and put that on the record. I remember bringing the Ukrainian ambassador to my invitation to come to care to meet some of the Ukrainian refugees. And indeed, the Dini Ogher and the Parchti, Ick Foul and Baila, and there is a quote in care, a faulty shock, and they were treating volunteers, immersing them into the community and introducing them. But I have huge concerns now about the way we have, unseemly, just supported this war, supported one side of it, the Ukrainians, Calf Blanch. And I know the Tarnasher was here, but he is not here now, and he should be. Listen to this, because when he was Taoiseach, he was the whole time just bum bum bum bum bum. One direct vision, tunnel vision. Under Article 29, Ireland's neutrality has been valued and respected, are full and down. Throughout the world, it has been respected. But I think he said, the former Taoiseach has now tarnished her, with an outdated sense of neutrality. I do not believe it is outdated for one minute. The people have not been consulted on this. And this is a made-up government that did not get a majority at the time of elections. It was cobbled together and put together, and you have to get on, and that is fine. But I think the people should be consulted on this, because we are a sovereign, small nation. And the immense role we have played throughout the world in peacekeeping, all over the world, since back to the time of the Congo, and beyond, and ever since then, and at present in Lebanon and elsewhere. So I honestly believe that we have dived in, a bit not more than we can chew. You think we are only giants, what we are doing here. And really we can do very little, only humanitarian aid and support. So I do want to, I also have concerns that during the invasion in Iraq, invading Iraq by the forces as well, and also the slaughter that is going on, the genocide in Nigeria, in many African countries, and many places like that, and we say very little. We have no emotions, and we have no engagement. So mostly skin color or something that's discrimination by that. So why can we make a question about Israel as well as another one? So I have huge concerns about that, and I won't be supporting the motion, I'll be supporting the amendment of the people. Good morning. Thank you. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye. Bye.
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