Thread by @RobGilbey

Too many questions to answer in a single tweet, so I'll thread my reply.

Firstly, I will ask what is your interpretation of #neutrality?

I have to ask because Irish neutrality is subjective

It is not a written policy, nor is it recognised officially by any other nation or body

https://twitter.com/SMacB/status/1480350692275593216

Actually, the latter point isn't strictly accurate, as @NATO acknowledges Ireland's "military neutrality" (note: they spelt out what it means to them).

Beyond that, there's no legally binding defined statement of Irish neutrality.

It does not exist.

nato.int/cps/en/natohq/…

"Military Neutrality" is meaningless, the term is a self-licking lollipop.

Unless the country is run by a Junta, the military doesn't have a say in where it gets deployed. As an instrument of political will, it is completely indifferent.

Politically, Ireland is far from neutral

This "overwhelming support" you speak of isn't necessarily true

Yes, the pro-neutrality lobby is vocal, but ultimately Irish people are practical & identify strongly as European

Polling & public narrative suggests Irish favour more security cooperation.

newstalk.com/news/irish-neu…

The myriad of threats to Ireland IMO are:

Threats to internal security through malicious info ops leading to violent outcomes. Subversion. Sabotage to critical infrastructure through physical & logical means. Climate change. Second order effects from conflict on the continent.

That list can go on.

And before you ask me "who would do that to us?", ask yourself, before you lock your door at night, do you consider leaving the door unlocked and ajar thinking "sure, who would harm me?".

We should protect our interests, because it is in our interest.

I believe it was a Swedish senior minister said "neutrality was incompatible with being in a union" (I would need to find source)

The reality is that being in a union shouldnt be a pic'n'mix of contribution. We should shoulder all responsibilities in solidarity with our partners

We certainly shouldn't be letting our partners shoulder our own responsibilities for us

Such as the RAF defending Irish airspace

As a @sinnfeinireland supporter @SMacB, I would expect you to be against that

Yet, SF have no counter air defence policy 🤔

m.independent.ie/irish-news/sec…

On SF & EU, whenever there is an EU vote, SF come out with the anti #EUArmy tropes

An EU Army is structurally, politically, & functionally impossible. It will never happen

It is an emotive bogey man to strike fear into voters

We should cooperate with our EU Partners on defence

To demonstrably prove that Irish neutrality is incompatible with being in a union, Ireland sided with its partners in expelling Russian diplomats, on numerous occasions.

🇮🇪 joins its partners in sanctions on other countries too

That's not a neutral act

irishtimes.com/news/ireland/i…

Because Ireland has positioned itself on the UNSC, it is obligated to take sides on conflict, further eroding the veneer of "neutrality" it claims.

So much so, it's own diplomats are being expelled.

apnews.com/article/europe…

You asked for benefits of abandoning a policy that doesn't really exist

First and foremost, is guaranteeing the safety and security of our citizens not enough?

Then there's the economic benefits from confidence in our security

The #StateofVulnerability policy isn't good enough

One last thing to consider as a @sinnfeinireland supporter

🇮🇪 neutrality doesnt exist. Northern Ireland membership of NATO does

A United Ireland may require certain security guarantees to be achievable, something the current Irish State cannot provide

Neutrality may have to go

When it comes to neutrality, Ireland cannot have its cake and eat it.

All we are achieving through weasel words and maintaining a weak military capability is protecting ourselves from the consequences of our own actions, at the expense of being exploited by foreign actors.