Editing Irish neutrality (section)

==Concept==
There are notable differences between Irish neutrality and “traditional” types of [[neutral country|neutral states]]:
*Traditionally, neutral states maintain strong defence forces; Ireland has a relatively small defence force of approximately 10,500 personnel.<ref name="militaryDOTie_faq5">{{Cite web |url=http://military.ie/dfhq/pubrel/faq.htm#5 |title=Military.ie – FAQ |access-date=8 January 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081226162419/http://www.military.ie/dfhq/pubrel/faq.htm#5 |archive-date=26 December 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*Traditionally, neutral states do not allow ''any'' foreign military within their territory; Ireland has a long history of allowing military aircraft of various nations to refuel at [[Shannon Airport]]. Under the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/ZZSI74Y1952.html |title=Irish Statute Book, Statutory Instruments, S.I. No. 74/1952 – Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952 |work=[[Irish Statute Book]] |publisher=Irishstatutebook.ie |access-date=26 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070316202913/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/ZZSI74Y1952.html |archive-date=16 March 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> the Minister for Foreign Affairs, exceptionally, could grant permission to foreign military aircraft to overfly or land in the state. Confirmation was required that the aircraft in question be unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives and that the flights in question would not form part of military exercises or operations.

After the [[September 11 attacks]], these conditions were "waived in respect of aircraft operating in pursuit of the implementation of the [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1368]]".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.irlgov.ie/debates-02/17Dec/Sect7.htm |title=''Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dail Debate 17 December 2002'' |access-date=13 March 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123082446/http://www.irlgov.ie/debates-02/17Dec/Sect7.htm |archive-date=23 November 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Irish government]]s have always said that allowing aircraft to use Irish soil does not constitute participation in any particular conflict and is compatible with a neutral stance, adducing the transit of German troops between [[Finland]] and [[Norway]] through neutral [[Sweden|Swedish]] territory during [[World War II]].

A neutral state may also allow its citizens to serve in the armed forces of other, possibly [[belligerent]], nations. Ireland does not restrict its citizens from serving in foreign armies, and significant numbers of Irish citizens serve or have served in the British, and to a lesser extent United States armies and the [[French Foreign Legion]].<ref>{{cite web |title=French Foreign Legion Association of Ireland |publisher=French Foreign Legion Association of Ireland |date=2019 |url=http://www.aalei.org/ |access-date=1 December 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=MacCormaic |first= Ruadhan |title=The legion of extraordinary gentlemen |work=Dispatches |publisher=[[Irish Times]] |date=8 October 2011 |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/people/the-legion-of-extraordinary-gentlemen-1.614596 |access-date=1 December 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Sunderland |first=Cairin |title=The Irish men of the French Foreign Legion |work=Features |publisher=[[Trinity News]] |date=11 December 2017 |url=http://trinitynews.ie/2017/12/the-irish-men-of-the-french-foreign-legion/ |access-date=1 December 2019 }}</ref>