Dear Editor,
Sinn Fein is claiming that the EU Reform Treaty will lead to a greater militarisation of Europe.

Gerry Adams, the leader of Sinn Fein, fails to mention that Ireland cannot join a common European defence pact unless Ireland holds a specific referendum on this issue. This position is enshrined in the Irish constitution.

The EU Reform Treaty does not diminish Ireland's neutrality one iota.

Moreover, Irish troops cannot serve on peacekeeping missions abroad unless it is under a specific resolution of the United Nations and it is approved by both the Irish Government and by Dáil Éireann. Our neutrality is protected by means of this triple lock arrangement.

I would also like to pay tribute to the all the Irish troops who have served on 58 different UN peacekeeping missions around the world over the past 50 years.

We can celebrate this year with a great sense of national pride the 50th anniversary since the first deployment of Irish troops on UN peacekeeping missions.

I strongly support the continuation of Irish troops serving on UN peacekeeping missions because it is a very key element of Ireland's foreign policy.

Gerry Adams should also remember that the EU can only act in foreign policy areas when it is with the full and unanimous agreement of all 27 member states of the EU.

Yours Sincerely,
Sean O Neachtain MEP
An Spidéal,
County Galway

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