Paul Murphy: Opposes Irish role in EU training of Ukrainian army
Paul Murphy questioned the Taoiseach over Ireland's participation in the EU military assistance mission to train the Ukrainian army, saying training one side breaches military neutrality. He demanded a guarantee that Defence Forces would be limited to de-mining work and said the minister had failed to give that guarantee.
Main contention
Murphy described the EU military assistance mission as part of a drive to integrate Ireland into European militarisation and to align the State with NATO. He characterised it as a full-spectrum training mission and quoted the European Council's aim to enhance the military capabilities of the Ukrainian armed forces.
Demand for de-mining guarantee
Murphy said he submitted parliamentary questions to the minister for defence seeking a guarantee that Irish Defence Forces would be involved only in de-mining. He said the minister repeatedly failed to give that guarantee, replying that details had not been finalised, and asked the Taoiseach to provide a clear assurance.
Government response and exchange
The Taoiseach rejected the accusation that the government is using the war to join NATO, calling the allegation "sick" and accusing Murphy and colleagues of being "anti-Ukraine." The Taoiseach insisted Ireland is not a member of NATO and said the State has never participated in any NATO military campaign, while also accusing the deputies of boycotting a minute's silence and acting like "puppets for the Putin regime."
Interoperability and peacekeeping
In reply the Taoiseach cited past peacekeeping operations, noting Ireland's service alongside the Polish army in Lebanon, and argued that interoperability with other forces is necessary for United Nations peacekeeping missions. He framed any cooperation as linked to peacekeeping rather than full participation in foreign military campaigns.
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.
I ask Ken Corle, Taoiseach, you know that we are completely opposed to Ireland's participation in the so-called EU military assistance mission to train the Ukrainian army. Training one side in a military conflict is a breach of military neutrality. This is part of a drive to integrate Ireland into a process of European militarisation and align Ireland with NATO. It is a full spectrum military training mission. Its purpose, to quote the European Council, is to enhance the military capabilities of the Ukrainian armed forces. You have been a pains, Taoiseach, to emphasise that Irish Defence Forces will be involved in de-mining training. However, I had parliamentary questions with the Minister for Defence last week. I asked for a guarantee that Defence Forces would only be involved in de-mining and nothing else. Minister Coveney repeatedly failed to give me that guarantee, saying that the details have not been finalised. Can you give me a guarantee that that is all you are sending Defence Forces troops to do? I mean, first of all, I do take exception to Deputy Murphy, Deputy Boyd Barrett and Deputy Barry's assertions that somehow the war has been used by the government as an excuse to join NATO and to work with NATO. I think it is a fairly sick allegation to make. This was an unprovoked war by Russia and Ukraine that nobody wanted. Many countries who were members of NATO spoke to Putin and asked him to stop and not to do it, including President Macron, including Chancellor Schultz. I do not know why you are so anti-Ukraine, but you are anti-Ukraine. It is very clear. This is how I am answering the question, Deputy Barrett. I am answering your question, if you will leave me, but you do not like what I am saying. You have boycotted the minute silence under Hladimir. All of you deliberately boycotted that event today. I want to say to you that in respect of the allegations that you have made, this country is not a member of NATO. I am answering the question. I am answering the question, Deputy. We have never participated in any military campaign with NATO, but what we have done. Deputy, please. I do not know. I was not up in Kilworth and eavesdropping on what they were going on, but I was in Lebanon. Who were we with in Lebanon? Who were we with in Lebanon, but Ireland was with the Polish Army. Deputy, please. What were we doing in Poland? We are peacekeeping with Poland. We peacekeep with other countries who are members of the United United Nations. And there has to be interoperability. And I presume that any work that we do with other troops is interoperability in respect to peacekeeping missions that the Irish Army is engaged in. And it is a complete untruth that you are asserting, Deputy, that you are asserting. And every time it comes to Ukraine, and every other deputy in this House today, every other deputy in this House, including Deputy Crowe, I am to deal with Deputy Crowe's issue. Deputy Crowe, I will. Deputy Crowe put down a question as well. But what is in stark contrast, every time there is a debate on Ukraine. Deputy Crowe, just for a minute. There are at least four questions to be responded to. We are way over time, we are out of time, so I would just ask you to deal with us. Deputy Crowe, I just want to say, every time there is a question in Ukraine, especially to do with refugees, to do with humanitarian, the three deputies opposite bring it back to NATO, bring it back to the Russian argument. And it is the same argument used by Russia last week when it named a lot of Irish politicians on their list. You guys are acting like puppets for Putin's regime. It is a disgrace what you are at. And I have watched it now for months. And that is all you do. You are puppets for the Putin regime. Deputy Crowe, can you guarantee that they are just doing de-mining? Deputy Crow, please, thank you, can we have a little bit of respect?
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.
