Moves towards a European Defence Force have ‘intensified’ since conflict broke out in the Middle East, Thomas Pringle has claimed.
Today at 1pm, protestors will gather outside Leinster House in opposition to work towards a common European Defence Force.
Independent Donegal TD Thomas Pringle told Breakfast Briefing it is an issue that Irish people should be “very concerned” about.
“I think it’s intensifying over the last while with the attack on Israel,” he said.
“We’re rapidly seeing the… move towards a militarised Europe where Germany and France are pushing for a European Defence Force and that’s going to be very serious for us I believe.”
🇮🇪 No to EU militarisation and an EU Army! Neutrality is our strength, join the Peoples Movement protest:
📅 Tomorrow, Wed, Mar 20th
⏰ 1:00 PM
📍Outside Dáil Éireann, Kildare St.#IrishNeutrality #NoToAnEUArmy pic.twitter.com/tenLhjTGuX— Thomas Pringle T.D. (@ThomasPringleTD) March 19, 2024
Last year, the Dáil approved Irish participation in a number of European Defence Agency procurement projects.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said in September, “Engagement in EDA Projects allows access to training, information sharing and key technologies that we simply would not be able to achieve on our own.”
He also told the Dáil the idea of a European Army was “fictional” and said it is “a concept which no country in Europe wants or is considering.”
Despite this, Deputy Pringle feels the Government is laying the groundwork for further defence integration.
“I think we’re coming to the stage where it’s going to happen,” he said.
“You combine this with the Government moves to remove the Triple Lock as well against the use of Irish [troops] in operations around the world as well.
“I think it’s something the Irish people really need to be concerned about and really need to let their voices be heard about as well because there’s no doubt Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Greens are intent on making sure Ireland will become part of the military aspect of the European Union.”
The creation of a European Army through an EU treaty would need to be ratified by the Irish people in a referendum.
'Irish people will be cannon fodder'
If a European Army were ever to be created, Deputy Pringle said he would be concerned that Irishmen and women would end up deployed to dangerous conflict zones.
“What does Ireland bring to an EU army?” he said.
“Only manpower because we don’t have that military capability, we don’t have a military industry but what we do have is manpower and that’s what we’d be bringing to the table,” he said.
“I’d be very worried about that because... Irish people will be cannon fodder and will be dying at the behest of Germany and France.”
Election issue
Local and European elections are scheduled to take place in June, with a General Election expected in the autumn.
Deputy Pringle said he hopes the issue of defence will feature prominent in public debates.
“The Government doesn’t want the Irish people to be talking about it,” he said.
“The Government will want to keep this as quiet as possible to ensure they can do what they want to do.
“If you look at the ongoing situation in relation to Shannon, the Government just wants to continue on with the militarisation of Ireland.
“What’s going to happen is eventually, the Irish people will wake up and discover that we our part of a European military apparatus and we’ve had no discussion or debate about it.”
The Defence Forces were allocated €1.23 billion to spend in Budget 2024.
Main image: An Irish Defence Forces arm patch of a soldier. Picture by: Andy Gibson / Alamy Stock Photo
