Paul Murphy: Calls for Putin's troops out and NATO pullback
Paul Murphy spoke about the crisis in Ukraine and Eastern Europe, calling it a clash between two imperialist powers and urging an anti-war movement. He demanded "Putin's troops out of Ukraine" and pressed the Taoiseach for the removal of NATO forces and bases from Eastern Europe.
Main argument
Paul Murphy argued that the situation in Ukraine and Eastern Europe is a clash between Russia and the US-led NATO alliance, with both sides pursuing geostrategic interests rather than concern for civilians. He called for an anti-war movement and said a crucial demand must be to get Putin's troops out of Ukraine.
NATO deployments named
Murphy asked whether the Taoiseach agreed that NATO forces should also leave Eastern Europe, naming active NATO battle groups in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland for removal. He also demanded the removal of missile bases in Romania and Poland and the suspension of large NATO exercises such as Defender Europe - which he noted involved 30,000 troops near Russia's border.
Government response
A speaker replying challenged Murphy's framing, saying the crisis is Russian aggression rather than a clash of alliances and rejecting the idea that NATO seeks war. That speaker referenced an article in the Financial Times by the Prime Minister of Estonia and recounted historical fears in Estonia of being left alone after deportations to Siberia.
Security and resolution
The respondent argued that European security concerns can be resolved through diplomacy and noted discussions with the Chancellor, saying that if those issues are addressed there would be no need for the current militarisation. The exchange concluded with the minister asserting that NATO "have no interest in war" and moving on to the next question.
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Thanks, Ken Coyle, Taoiseach, what is happening in Ukraine and Eastern Europe, in fact, is a clash between two imperialist powers, Russia on the one side and the US-led military alliance of NATO on the other. Both sides use language about concern for the people in the Donbass on the behalf of Putin, who is an authoritarian thug, and on the other hand, NATO concern for the right to self-determination of Ukraine. In reality, neither are concerned about those who will be the victims of warmongering. They are both seeking to extend their zones of geostrategic interest. We are very clear there needs to be an anti-war movement built. A crucial demand there is to say Putin's troops out of Ukraine. The question for the Taoiseach is, does the Taoiseach not agree that NATO forces should also leave Eastern Europe? The active NATO battle groups in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland should be removed. The missile bases in Romania and Poland should be removed. And the annual very significant military exercises by NATO, so-called Defender Europe, which happened on Russia's border, 30,000 troops, they should also be stopped. They are clearly aimed at encircling Russia. I have to take issue with Deputy Murphy, if I may. Your anti-Americanism always trumps a rational assessment of a situation. This isn't the clash of two alliances at all. This is the aggression of Russia, unfortunately it has to be called out. It is wrong. It is wrong. NATO have no interest in war. And you say that they should, you're saying they should pull back troops and deployment from Eastern Europe. I would refer you to an article written in the Financial Times by the Prime Minister of Estonia. Just read that article and you'll understand why if you lived in Estonia, or if you lived in Poland, or Latvia, or Lithuania, why you'd never want to be alone again. And that's the phrase she used. Her grandparents were deported to Siberia. First they had the Nazis, then they had the Russians. And what happened when the Russians came in after World War II, they were deported to Siberia and taken over. They said they will never be alone again. Because being alone again means the kind of thing that's happening in Ukraine right now. Yeah, we need to move on to question number 16. So the security issues can be resolved. People want to resolve, the European Union want to resolve the security concerns that Russia may have. They can easily be resolved. And we discussed that yesterday with the Chancellor. If those issues can be dealt with, there's no need for this incredible militarisation. That NATO has had no hand, act, or part. Time is up. We do need to move to question 16.
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