Madam, – I welcome Vincent Browne’s contribution in relation to the European Defence Agency (Opinion, September 23rd). It is important that we realise the real significance of Ireland’s involvement, and of the entire EU military project, before voting.
Notwithstanding Ireland’s attempts to opt out of any unsavoury involvement in the agency through the Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009, it is worth noting Minister for the Environment John Gormley’s words as reported in your paper on March 3rd of this year. He said “. . . the treaty itself says that member-states shall improve their military capability and that is not acceptable to the Green Party.” While he can now make feeble claims about taking back control of Ireland’s military spending, he seems unperturbed by the fact that the agency is in the business of promoting armaments and boosting the arms trade.
Madam, – I welcome Vincent Browne’s contribution in relation to the European Defence Agency (Opinion, September 23rd). It is important that we realise the real significance of Ireland’s involvement, and of the entire EU military project, before voting.
Notwithstanding Ireland’s attempts to opt out of any unsavoury involvement in the agency through the Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009, it is worth noting Minister for the Environment John Gormley’s words as reported in your paper on March 3rd of this year. He said “. . . the treaty itself says that member-states shall improve their military capability and that is not acceptable to the Green Party.” While he can now make feeble claims about taking back control of Ireland’s military spending, he seems unperturbed by the fact that the agency is in the business of promoting armaments and boosting the arms trade.
Ireland joined the European Defence Agency in July 2004 without any Dáil debate or vote. Its head Javier Solana has made it clear that there is an “absolute requirement for us to spend more, spend better and spend more together”. Ireland has done its part, making a financial contribution of over €300,000 in 2008. In addition, Ireland has been participating in the Joint Investment Programme on Force Protection since 2007 and is committing €700,000 to its budget.
We hear repeated denials of an Irish arms industry and our Government ministers speak of defending our military neutrality. But if the Lisbon Treaty is passed it will give formal approval to EU arms industries and we will be part of this immoral business. We will be helping the arms industry to develop and we will have more potential for bloodshed around the world, while we continue to struggle with our international commitments to spend 0.7 per cent of GNP on overseas development. – Yours, etc,
JOHN LANNON,
Raheen,
Ballyneety, Co Limerick.
