Rose Conway-Walsh Presses Government on Greenland Sovereignty Threat
Rose Conway-Walsh raised concerns about public statements by US President Donald Trump suggesting the United States might seek to forcibly take control of Greenland, and asked for an assessment of implications for Ireland's defence and national security and for updates on EU-level discussions about Greenland's sovereignty. She argued such a move would present a fundamental challenge to international law, the sovereignty of small states and to European security.
Concern raised
Rose Conway-Walsh questioned the government about the extraordinary prospect of the United States attempting to take control of Greenland, a territory of Denmark and an EU member state. She asked for an outline of what assessment has been made of the implications for Ireland's defence and national security and for an update on EU discussions regarding Greenland's sovereignty.
Security implications outlined
She warned that any attempt to forcibly seize Greenland would affect the strategic balance in the North Atlantic and have direct relevance to Ireland's security. In particular she highlighted risks to undersea infrastructure, airspace monitoring and exposure to hybrid threats.
Government response
The Taoiseach responded that Greenland has not been attacked and no one has violated Greenland, describing the recent remarks as threats and talk. He said the government believes in dialogue and sensible engagement, but above all in Denmark's sovereignty and in respect for Greenland's self-determination; he added that the government has spoken with Denmark and with leadership in Greenland and will continue to support Greenland.
Record and remaining questions
The exchange recorded clear assurances of support for Denmark's sovereignty and Greenland's right to decide its own destiny, while pressing for clarity on defence assessments and EU coordination. The transcript includes some fragmented remarks in the response, leaving scope for further clarification on specific defence assessments and EU-level actions.
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The recent public statements by US President Donald Trump have raised the extraordinary prospect of the United States seeking to forcibly take control of Greenland, a territory of Denmark and an EU member state. Such an action, if pursued, would present a fundamental challenge to international law, the sovereignty of small states and to European security. It would also have serious implications for the strategic balance in the North Atlantic, a region of direct relevance to Ireland's security, particularly in relation to undersea infrastructure, airspace monitoring and hybrid threats. Given Ireland's military neutrality, limited defence capabilities and increasing exposure to geopolitical instability, can you outline what assessment has been made of the implications for our defence and national security and can you update us on discussions taking place at an EU level regarding Greenland's sovereignty? I will say to you this, that we're, again, in terms of Greenland, Greenland has not been attacked. No one has violated Greenland. There's been threats, there's been talk, this, that or the other. As I said earlier, we believe in dialogue, we believe in sensible engagement, but we believe above all in Denmark, Denmark's sovereignty and in respect of Greenland and the people of Greenland having the ultimate decision in terms of its own self-determination and destiny. And we have spoken with Denmark in that respect, and as I said, I've also spoken with the leadership in Greenland, and we will continue to support Greenland. We do not believe in any shape or form that there should be any violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We do not believe in anyors of the country. We do not believe it. All of the function in the streets, and there are many circumstances, which he says, that there are only conditions in the country. The new village of the government, we do not believe in the forest, which we do not believe in the land. We do not believe in the street, but we believe in that there are only a lot of opportunities that cannot be seen – so please call them.
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