Gerard P. Craughwell calls for independent Oireachtas briefings on neutrality
Gerard P. Craughwell addressed the House on defence, warning that many members speak on the triple lock and neutrality without the factual knowledge required and urging that independent briefings be arranged. He insisted there is only one legally recognised neutrality under the Hague Convention, criticised public statements made without fact, and cited a Kabul situation where the triple lock could have had serious consequences.
Craughwell said independent experts should brief members of the Oireachtas so public statements are based on fact rather than opinion. He argued briefings are necessary because geopolitical plates are moving and statements by politicians are watched outside the country.
He warned that many people in this House and in the lower House speak about the triple lock without the basic information they need. He acknowledged differences of view with Senator Clonan and with retired members of the Defence Forces but emphasised that the debate should be informed; he said the triple lock could have cost the State seriously in a situation in Kabul where people needed to be removed.
Craughwell said there is only one form of neutrality and that it is the neutrality that comes under the Hague Convention. He criticised the casual use of terms such as politically neutral and militarily neutral when discussing international law.
He urged extreme care in public statements by politicians because statements have currency abroad and can carry consequences. He concluded by asking the Leader to organise a lecture for Oireachtas members so debates about defence, the triple lock and neutrality are grounded in fact.
Urgent call for independent briefings
Craughwell said independent experts should brief members of the Oireachtas so public statements are based on fact rather than opinion. He argued briefings are necessary because geopolitical plates are moving and statements by politicians are watched outside the country.
Concerns about the triple lock
He warned that many people in this House and in the lower House speak about the triple lock without the basic information they need. He acknowledged differences of view with Senator Clonan and with retired members of the Defence Forces but emphasised that the debate should be informed; he said the triple lock could have cost the State seriously in a situation in Kabul where people needed to be removed.
Definition of neutrality under international law
Craughwell said there is only one form of neutrality and that it is the neutrality that comes under the Hague Convention. He criticised the casual use of terms such as politically neutral and militarily neutral when discussing international law.
Watchfulness and request to the Leader
He urged extreme care in public statements by politicians because statements have currency abroad and can carry consequences. He concluded by asking the Leader to organise a lecture for Oireachtas members so debates about defence, the triple lock and neutrality are grounded in fact.
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Transcript
Goedemiddag. Leader, there has been a newfound interest in defence in this country. This weekend there was not one publication that did not have an opinion piece of some sort or other from various different people throughout the country expressing their view of where defence should be. It is a matter of serious concern to me that people in this House and in the lower House find themselves speaking on such things as the triple lock and on neutrality without the basic information they need to speak on it. And I believe that a time has come, I know my colleague Senator Clonan is here right now who speaks with an informed knowledge of these things. But there are too many members of this House who speak with an uninformed knowledge of what the triple lock is about, what neutrality is about, and what's required under international law when we talk about neutrality. We hear terms like politically neutral and militarily neutral. There is only one form of neutrality and that's that that comes under the Hague Convention. So you don't need a lecture from me and I'm sure you don't need a lecture from my colleague Tom. What we need is we need independent people to come and brief members of the Oireachtas that when we make public statements, those public statements have currency and that they are statements that are based on fact and not on opinion. We need to be extremely careful as geopolitical plates are moving in this world. Statements being made by politicians are being watched outside the country. And we need to be sure that when our politicians speak, they speak on the basis of knowledge and fact and not on what they feel or don't feel. I know that myself and Senator Clonan would differ on the triple lock and that's perfectly reasonable that we would. And I differ with other retired members of the Defence Forces on the triple lock and others see it from my point of view. But we can have an informed argument on it. At the end of the day, we had a situation in Kabul where we needed to remove people and the triple lock could have cost us seriously. So I'd ask you to organise that lecture. Thank you.