Editing Irish neutrality

{{short description|Military neutrality of the Republic of Ireland}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=May 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}

[[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]] has a longstanding policy of military [[neutral country|neutrality]], which has meant not joining [[military alliance]]s or [[defence pact]]s, or taking part in international conflicts. The nature of '''Irish neutrality''' has varied over time. The [[Irish Free State]] declared itself a [[neutral country]] in 1922, and Ireland remained neutral during the [[The Emergency (Ireland)|Second World War]]; although it allowed [[Allies of World War II|Allied]] military aircraft to fly through [[Donegal Corridor|part of its airspace]], and shared some intelligence with the Allies (see [[Irish neutrality during World War II]]). During the [[Cold War]], it did not join [[NATO]] nor the [[Non-Aligned Movement]].<ref name="TonraPreface">Tonra et al. 2012, Preface: [http://ria.ie/getmedia/2f50e24a-9d8a-42df-8ec5-db3efe7583a4/Forward.pdf.aspx#page=3 ''The Study of Irish Foreign Policy'' p.xix] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017172201/http://ria.ie/getmedia/2f50e24a-9d8a-42df-8ec5-db3efe7583a4/Forward.pdf.aspx#page=3 |date=17 October 2013 }}</ref> Since the 1970s, some have defined Irish neutrality more broadly to include a commitment to "[[United Nations peacekeeping]], human rights and [[disarmament]]".<ref name="TonraPreface"/> Recent Irish governments have defined it narrowly as non-membership of military defensive alliances.<ref name="TonraPreface"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Ireland's policy of military neutrality |url=https://www.dfa.ie/our-role-policies/international-priorities/peace-and-security/neutrality/ |publisher=[[Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Ireland)]] |quote=Ireland’s policy of military neutrality has long been an important strand of our independent foreign policy and is characterised by non-membership of military alliances or common or mutual defence arrangements.}}</ref> Although the republic is not part of any military alliance, it relies on a NATO member, the United Kingdom, to protect Irish airspace.<ref>{{cite news |title=Who protects Irish skies? The secret air defence deal that dates back to the Cold War |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2023/05/08/who-protects-irish-skies-the-secret-air-defence-deal-that-dates-back-to-the-cold-war/ |work=[[The Irish Times]] |date=8 May 2023}}</ref> It also allows stopovers by some foreign military aircraft, provided they are not armed.

Ireland is one of four [[European Union]] countries that are [[Neutral member states in the European Union|not members of NATO]]; the others are [[Austria]], [[Cyprus]] and [[Malta]]. The compatibility of neutrality with Ireland's EU membership has been a point of debate in [[Amendments to the Constitution of Ireland#The European Union|EU treaty referendum campaigns]] since the 1990s. The [[Seville Declarations on the Treaty of Nice]] acknowledge Ireland's "traditional policy of military neutrality".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110716154037/http://foreignaffairs.gov.ie/home/index.aspx?id=26263 Seville Declarations on the Nice Treaty]</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ambiguous alliance: Neutrality, opt-outs, and European defence |url=https://ecfr.eu/publication/ambiguous-alliance-neutrality-opt-outs-and-european-defence/ |website=[[European Council on Foreign Relations]] |date=28 June 2021}}</ref> The [[Defence Forces (Ireland)|Irish Defence Forces]] have been involved in [[List of wars involving the Republic of Ireland|many UN peacekeeping missions]].

==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>

==Legal status==
Ireland's neutrality is in general a matter of government policy rather than a requirement of [[statute law]]. One exception is Article 29, section 4, subsection 9° of the [[Constitution of Ireland|Irish constitution]]:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/en/constitution/index.html#article29_4_9|title=Constitution of Ireland|work=[[Irish Statute Book]]|no-pp=y|page=Art 29.4.9°|access-date=4 February 2015}}</ref>
:The State shall not adopt a decision taken by the [[European Council]] to establish a [[Common Security and Defence Policy|common defence]] pursuant to Article 42 of the [[Treaty on European Union]] where that common defence would include the State.
This was originally inserted by the [[Twenty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland|2002 amendment]] ratifying the [[Treaty of Nice]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2002/en/act/cam/0026/index.html|title=Twenty-Sixth Amendment of the Constitution Act, 2002|work=[[Irish Statute Book]]|access-date=4 February 2015}}</ref> and updated by the [[Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland|2009 amendment]] ratifying the [[Treaty of Lisbon]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2009/en/act/cam/0028/index.html|title=Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution Act, 2009|work=[[Irish Statute Book]]|access-date=4 February 2015}}</ref> An earlier bill intended to ratify the Treaty of Nice did not include a common defence opt-out, and was rejected in the [[Twenty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 2001 (Ireland)|first Nice referendum]], in 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=/documents/bills28/bills/2001/1901/default.htm|title=Twenty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, 2001 (No. 19 of 2001)|work=Bills|publisher=[[Oireachtas]]|access-date=4 February 2015}}</ref>

{{anchor|Triple lock}}The Defence Act 1954, the principal statute governing the [[Irish Defence Forces]], did not oblige members of the [[Irish Army]] to serve outside the state (members of the [[Air Corps (Ireland)|Air Corps]] and [[Naval Service (Ireland)|Naval Service]] were not so limited).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1954/en/act/pub/0018/print.html#partiv-chapiii|title=Defence Act, 1954|work=[[Irish Statute Book]]|pages=Part IV Chapter III|access-date=3 July 2015}}</ref> A 1960 amendment<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1960/en/act/pub/0044/|title=Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 1960|work=[[Irish Statute Book]]|access-date=3 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704040729/http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1960/en/act/pub/0044/|archive-date=4 July 2015|url-status=dead}} replacing the temporary {{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1960/en/act/pub/0022/index.html|title=Defence (Amendment) Act, 1960|work=[[Irish Statute Book]]|access-date=3 July 2015}}</ref> was intended to allow deployment in [[United Nations peacekeeping]] missions,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/debateswebpack.nsf/takes/dail1960120700007?opendocument|title=Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 1960—Second Stage.|date=7 December 1960|work=Dáil Éireann debates|pages=Vol.185 No.6 p.7|access-date=3 July 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/Debates%20Authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/takes/dail1960072000039|title=Defence (Amendment) Bill, 1960—Second and Subsequent Stages.|date=20 July 1960|work=Dáil Éireann debates|pages=Vol.183 No.14 p.39|access-date=3 July 2015}}</ref> and requires three forms of authorisation, which since the 1990s have come to be called the "triple lock":<ref name="grnPaperE">{{cite web|url=http://www.defence.ie/WebSite.nsf/grnPaperE#page=10|title=Green paper on Defence|date=July 2013|publisher=Department of Defence|pages=2.6 Military Neutrality, 2.7 Overseas Deployments and the "Triple Lock"|access-date=3 July 2015|location=Dublin|archive-date=27 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527042033/http://www.defence.ie/WebSite.nsf/grnPaperE#page=10|url-status=dead}}</ref>
# A [[United Nations Security Council resolution|UN Security Council resolution]] or [[United Nations General Assembly resolution|UN General Assembly resolution]];
# A formal decision by the Irish government;
# Approval by a [[resolution (law)|resolution]] of [[Dáil Éireann]] (the lower house of the [[Oireachtas]] or parliament, to which the government is [[responsible government|responsible]]).
These provisions were modified in 1993<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1993/en/act/pub/0018/index.html|title=Defence (Amendment) Act, 1993|work=[[Irish Statute Book]]|access-date=3 July 2015}}</ref> to allow for [[Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter|Chapter VII]] missions and again in 2006<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2006/en/act/pub/0020/index.html|title=Defence (Amendment) Act 2006|work=[[Irish Statute Book]]|access-date=3 July 2015}}</ref> to allow for regionally organised UN missions.<ref name="grnPaperE" />  In 2025, the government proposed to eliminate the requirement of UN Security Council approval, to that the [[Permanent members of the United Nations Security Council]] did not have a [[United Nations Security Council veto power|veto]].<ref>{{citeweb|url=https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/60436-tanaiste-secures-government-approval-to-reform-the-triple-lock/|title=Tánaiste secures government approval to reform the Triple Lock|date=2025-03-04|accessdate=2025-03-29|publisher=[[Government of Ireland]]}}</ref>

==History==

===Before independence===
[[File:Irish Citizen Army Group Liberty Hall Dublin 1914.jpg|thumb|[[Irish Citizen Army]] outside [[Liberty Hall]] in 1914, in front of a banner reading "We serve neither King nor Kaiser but Ireland".]]

Irish leaders in the [[Nine Years' War (Ireland)|Nine Years' War]] (1594–1603) allied with [[Habsburg Spain]], who sent military aid to the Irish.<ref name="fanning1982p27"/> Following their defeat, [[Kingdom of Ireland|all of Ireland]] was a [[dependent territory|dependency]] of [[Kingdom of England|England]] and then of [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]]. During this period, Catholic soldiers from Ireland fought in the armies of several European Catholic countries, in what is known as the [[Flight of the Wild Geese]]. In 1644–1645, during the [[Wars of the Three Kingdoms]], the [[Confederate Ireland|Irish Confederacy]] sent a [[Irish Confederate expedition to Scotland|military expedition to Scotland]] to help the Scottish Royalists. During the [[Irish Rebellion of 1798]], the [[United Irishmen]] sought and received military assistance from the [[French First Republic]].<ref name="fanning1982p27"/>

Ireland was part of the [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland]] from 1801 to 1922. While [[Unionism in Ireland|Irish unionist]]s supported political integration with Britain, [[Irish nationalism|Irish nationalist]]s were divided between those who envisaged some continuing link with Britain and the "advanced nationalists", mainly [[Irish republicanism|republicans]], who wanted full independence. Separatists generally envisaged an independent Ireland being neutral, but were prepared to ally with Britain's enemies in order to secure that independence, reflected in the maxim "England's difficulty is Ireland's opportunity".<ref name="fanning1982p27">Fanning 1982, p.27</ref>  At the outbreak of the [[First World War]], [[James Connolly]] was president of the Irish Neutrality League<ref name="fanning1982p28">Fanning 1982, p.28</ref> and was prosecuted for a banner reading "We serve neither King nor Kaiser but Ireland". During the 1916 [[Easter Rising]], Connolly and the other leaders of the uprising sought military aid from Germany.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Martin |first1=F. X. |title=The 1916 Rising: A "Coup d'État" or a 'Bloody Protest'? |journal=Studia Hibernica |date=1968 |issue=8 |pages=106–137 |doi=10.3828/sh.1968.8.7 |jstor=20495897 |s2cid=243122187 |issn=0081-6477}}</ref> 

In the 1921 negotiations leading to the [[Anglo-Irish Treaty]], [[Erskine Childers (author)|Erskine Childers]] envisaged the [[Irish Republic]] having a neutral status guaranteed in international law on the model of [[Belgium]] and [[Switzerland]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.difp.ie/docs/1921/Anglo-Irish-Treaty/142.htm|title=Memorandum on Irish defence as affected by the British proposals of 20 July 1921|last=Childers|first=Erskine|date=July 1921|work=Documents on IRISH FOREIGN POLICY|publisher=[[Royal Irish Academy]]|pages=Vol. I No. 142|access-date=15 July 2015}}</ref>

===Irish Free State===
The [[Irish Free State]] established in 1922 by the [[Anglo-Irish Treaty]] was a [[Dominion]] of the [[British Commonwealth]], with the UK retaining responsibility for Ireland's marine defence as well as three naval bases, the "[[Treaty Ports (Ireland)|Treaty Ports]]". Article 49 of the 1922 [[Constitution of the Irish Free State]] stated, "Save in the case of actual invasion, the Irish Free State ... shall not be committed to active participation in any war without the assent of the [[Oireachtas of the Irish Free State|Oireachtas]] [parliament]". In the [[Third Dáil]] debate on the draft constitution, the [[Provisional Government of Ireland (1922)|Provisional Government]] rejected a [[Labour Party (Ireland)|Labour Party]] amendment requiring assent of the electorate via referendum. [[Thomas Johnson (Irish politician)|Thomas Johnson]] argued "The war that is to be guarded against is a war overseas, is a war that this country may be drawn into by Parliament, by the will of Parliament perhaps, at the instigation of perhaps Canada, or perhaps Australia, or perhaps South Africa, or perhaps Great Britain, and the last is very much the more likely".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Thomas |title=In Committee on the Constitution of Saorstát Eireann Bill. — Article 48 |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1922-10-05/19/#para_132 |website=Dáil Éireann (3rd Dáil) debates |publisher=Houses of the Oireachtas |access-date=31 January 2020 |language=en-ie |date=5 October 1922}}</ref>

In the [[Statute of Westminster 1931]], the UK renounced the right to legislate for the Free State. The 1938 [[Anglo-Irish Trade Agreement]] saw the Treaty Ports handed over to the Free State.

The Free State joined the [[International Committee for Non-Intervention in the Spanish Civil War]]. The Spanish Civil War (Non-Intervention) Act, 1937 made it an offence to travel from Ireland to Spain to fight for either side.<ref name="act1937n01">{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1937/en/act/pub/0001/print.html|title=Spanish Civil War (Non-Intervention) Act, 1937|publisher=Irish Statute Book|access-date=31 August 2010}}</ref> This applied both to Irish citizens and nationals of other countries on the committee.<ref name="si1937n35">{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1937/en/si/0035.html|title=S.I. No. 35/1937 – Spanish Civil War (Non-Intervention) Act, 1937 (Appointed Countries) Order, 1937.|work=Irish Statute Book|access-date=31 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|date=October 1937|title=Spain: International Committee for the Application of the Agreement Regarding Non-Intervention in Spain|journal=The American Journal of International Law|volume=31|issue=4, Supplement: Official Documents|pages=163–179|doi=10.2307/2213590 |jstor=2213590|s2cid=246013596 }}</ref> Nevertheless, there was [[Irish involvement in the Spanish Civil War]] on both sides by private individuals and groups. Another statute related to the committee was the Merchant Shipping (Spanish Civil War) Act 1937, which restricted Irish shipping's access to Spain until 27 April 1939.<ref>{{cite journal|last=O'Donoghue|first=Aoife|title=Neutrality and Multilateralism after the First World War|journal=Journal of Conflict and Security Law|volume=15|issue=1|pages=169–202|doi=10.1093/jcsl/krp029|year=2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1939/sro/102/made/en/print|title=S.I. No. 102/1939 - Merchant Shipping (Spanish Civil War) (Revocation) Order, 1939.|date=27 April 1939|work=Irish Statute Book|access-date=7 November 2016}}</ref>

===World War II===
{{Main|Irish neutrality during World War II}} 
Ireland remained neutral during World War II. The [[Fianna Fáil]] government's position was flagged years in advance by [[Taoiseach]] [[Éamon de Valera]] and had broad support. [[James Dillon (Fine Gael politician)|James Dillon]] was the only member of [[Dáil Éireann]] to oppose it during the war, resigning from [[Fine Gael]] in 1942 and demanding that Ireland assist the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] (while not necessarily declaring war on the [[Axis powers|Axis]]).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1942-07-15/22/ |title=Committee on Finance. – Vote 3—Department of the Taoiseach (Resumed).|date=15 July 1942 |work=Dáil Éireann debates |pages=Vol.88 No.6 |access-date=21 March 2022}}</ref><ref name="RobertsGirvin2000">{{cite book |last1=Roberts |first1=Geoffrey |last2=Girvin |first2=Brian |title=Ireland and the Second World War: Politics, Society and Remembrance |year=2000 |publisher=Four Courts Press |isbn=9781851824823 |page=178}}</ref> However, tens of thousands of Irish citizens, who were by law British subjects, fought in the Allied armies against the Nazis, mostly in the [[British army]]. Senators [[Sir John Keane, 5th Baronet|John Keane]] and [[Frank MacDermot]] also favoured Allied support.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/ireland/1940-01-01/ireland-and-war|title=Ireland and the War|last=Gwynn|first=Stephen|date=January 1940|journal=Foreign Affairs|volume=18|issue=2|pages=305–313|doi=10.2307/20029000|jstor=20029000|access-date=15 July 2015|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

De Valera said in his wartime speeches that small states should stay out of the conflicts of big powers; hence Ireland's policy was officially "neutral", and the country did not publicly declare its support for either side. In practice, while [[Luftwaffe]] pilots who crash-landed in Ireland and German sailors were interned, [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF), [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] (RCAF), and [[United States Army Air Forces]] (USAAF) pilots who crashed were released on personal assurances and usually allowed to cross the [[Irish border|border]] into British territory (although some Allied personnel were also interned<ref name=klines>{{cite web | last = Matthew McNamara | first = Matthew | title = The Challenge of the Irish Volunteers of World War II | publisher = K-Lines Internment Camp 1940–44 | year = 2008 | url = http://www.curragh.info/klines.htm | access-date = 19 March 2010 }}</ref>). The internees were referred to as "guests of the nation". The German embassy had to pay for their keep. If they were on a non-combative mission they were repatriated. While it was easy for Allied pilots to make that claim, it was not realistic for Luftwaffe pilots to make a similar claim. Towards the end of the war, the German embassy was unable to pay, so the internees had to work on local farms. Strict wartime press censorship had the effect of controlling a moral reaction to the war's unfolding events and reiterated the public position that Irish neutrality was morally superior to the stance of any of the combatants.<ref name="wwiivolunteers">{{cite web | last = Roberts | first = Geoffrey | title = The Challenge of the Irish Volunteers of World War II | publisher = Reform Movement | year = 2004 | url = http://www.reform.org/TheReformMovement_files/article_files/articles/war.htm | access-date = 6 September 2008 }}</ref>

Allied military aircraft were allowed to overfly [[County Donegal]] to bases in [[County Fermanagh]]. This was known as the [[Donegal Corridor]]. The bodies of any crashed Allied airmen were repatriated by the Irish Army at the border, where they would be met by an Allied officer. On at least one occasion, an Allied Air Force officer thanked his Irish counterpart for the honour they bestowed upon the repatriated airmen. The Irish captain was said to reply, "Ours may be the honour, but yours is the glory."<ref>[http://www.localdial.com/users/airforce/Doncor.htm ''The Donegal Corridor and Irish Neutrality during World War Two.''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061026175845/http://www.localdial.com/users/airforce/Doncor.htm |date=26 October 2006 }} A Talk given by Joe O'Loughlin, Local Historian, of Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.</ref>

USAAF aircraft flying to North Africa refuelled at [[Shannon Airport]] and [[flying boat]]s at nearby [[Foynes]].{{cn|date=November 2024}}

During the war, an estimated 70,000 citizens of neutral Ireland served as volunteers in the [[British Armed Forces]] (and another estimated 50,000 from Northern Ireland).<ref name="wwiivolunteers"/> Those who deserted the Irish Army to serve in the British Army, on returning to Ireland were stripped of all pay and pension rights, and banned for seven years from any employment paid for by state or government funds.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16287211 |title=Why Irish soldiers who fought Hitler hide their medals |first=John |last=Waite |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=27 December 2011 |access-date=20 July 2012}}</ref> 

Irish [[military intelligence]] ([[G2 (Republic of Ireland)|G2]]) shared information with the British military and even held secret meetings to decide what to do if Germany invaded Ireland to attack Britain, which resulted in [[Plan W]], a plan for joint Irish and British military action should the Germans invade. However General [[Hugo MacNeill (Irish Army officer)|Hugo McNeill]], the commander of the Irish Second Division based on the Northern Ireland border, had private discussions with the German ambassador, [[Edouard Hempel]], about German military assistance in the event of a British invasion from the north.<ref>Ireland in the War Years 1939 – 1940 – T.J. Carroll pg 117</ref> De Valera declined Germany's offer of captured British weapons.<ref>Carroll, (1975). ''Ireland in the War Years'', page 176.</ref> The Germans did have a plan for an invasion of Ireland called [[Operation Green (Ireland)|Operation Green]], similar to the Allies' [[Operation Bodyguard]], but it was only to be put into operation with [[Operation Sea Lion]], the plan to conquer Britain.

During the [[Belfast Blitz]] in April 1941, when the Luftwaffe bombed [[Belfast]] in Northern Ireland, De Valera responded immediately to a request for help from [[Basil Brooke, 1st Viscount Brookeborough|Basil Brooke]], [[Prime Minister of Northern Ireland]]. Fire engines were sent from the south to help their Belfast colleagues. De Valera formally protested to the German government and made a speech declaring "they are our people".

Irish neutrality during the war was threatened from within by the [[Irish Republican Army]] (IRA), which sought to provoke a confrontation between Britain and Ireland. This plan collapsed, however, when [[List of IRA Chiefs of Staff|IRA chief of staff]] [[Seán Russell]] died in a [[U-boat]] off the Irish coast as part of [[Operation Dove (Ireland)|Operation Dove]]; the Germans also later came to realise they had overestimated the capabilities of the IRA. The American ambassador, David Gray, stated that he once asked de Valera, early in the war, what he would do if [[Fallschirmjäger (Nazi Germany)|German paratroopers]] "liberated" [[Derry]]. According to Gray, de Valera was silent for a time and then replied "I don't know."{{cn|date=November 2024}}

Many German spies were sent to Ireland, but all were captured quickly as a result of good intelligence and sometimes their ineptitude. The chief [[Abwehr]] spy was [[Hermann Görtz]].

As the state was neutral, [[Irish Mercantile Marine during World War II|Irish cargo ships]] continued to sail with full navigation lights. They had large tricolours and the word "EIRE" <!-- not ÉIRE -->painted large on their sides and decks. Irish ships rescued more than 500 seamen, and some airmen, from many countries during the war. However, many Irish ships were attacked by belligerents on both sides. Over 20% of Irish seamen died, on clearly marked neutral vessels, in the [[Irish Mercantile Marine during World War II]].

Winston Churchill, the British wartime Prime Minister, made an attack on the Irish Government and in particular Éamon de Valera in his radio broadcast on [[VE Day]]. Churchill maintained that the British government displayed restraint on the Irish state while the de Valera government were allowed to "frolic with the Germans". Churchill maintained that the British could have invaded the Irish state, but displayed "considerable restraint" in not doing so. De Valera replied to Churchill in a radio broadcast:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.politics.ie/wiki/index.php?title=%C3%89amon_de_Valera_Response_to_Churchill_(Document) |title=Politics.ie – The Irish Politics Website |publisher=Politics.ie |access-date=26 October 2008 |archive-date=28 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071128072805/http://www.politics.ie/wiki/index.php?title=%C3%89amon_de_Valera_Response_to_Churchill_%28Document%29 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

<blockquote>
Mr. Churchill makes it clear that in certain circumstances he would have violated our neutrality and that he would justify his action by Britain's necessity. It seems strange to me that Mr. Churchill does not see that this, if accepted, would mean that Britain's necessity would become a moral code and that when this necessity became sufficiently great, other people's rights were not to count....this same code is precisely why we have the disastrous succession of wars... shall it be world war number three?
</blockquote>

===The Cold War===
During the [[Cold War]], Ireland maintained its policy of neutrality. It did not align itself officially with [[NATO]], the [[Warsaw Pact]], or the [[Non-Aligned Movement]]. It refused to join NATO due to a sovereignty dispute over Northern Ireland with the United Kingdom, a NATO member.<ref>{{cite journal |first=Ronan |last=Fanning |title=The United States and Irish Participation in Nato: The Debate of 1950 |journal=Irish Studies in International Affairs |volume=1 |number=1 |year=1979 |pages=38–48: 38 |jstor = 30001704}}</ref><ref>''Aide-mémoire'' to US State Department official on issue of NATO membership, 8 February 1949, National Archives of Ireland, File NAI DEA 305/74 a, Ireland and NATO</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|title ='Coming out of the Cave': The First Inter-Party Government, the Council of Europe and NATO|last = Keane|first = E.|journal = Irish Studies in International Affairs|volume=15 |year=2004 |pages=167–190|doi = 10.3318/ISIA.2004.15.1.167|jstor=30002085 | url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/845137 }}</ref><ref>Dáil Éireann, Volume 114, 23 February 1949, Oral Answers – Atlantic Pact, 324 (Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Atlantic Pact. Wednesday, 23 February 1949) http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/debateswebpack.nsf/takes/dail1949022300018?opendocument Accessed 20150927
</ref> Ireland offered to set up a separate alliance with the United States but this was refused. This offer was linked in part to the $133 million received from the [[Marshall Aid]] Plan.{{cn|date=November 2024}}

However, secret transmission of information from the government to the [[CIA]] started in 1955. The link was established by [[Liam Cosgrave]] via a Mr. Cram and the Irish embassy in London, and was not revealed until December 2007.<ref>{{cite web |date=28 December 2007 |title=Ex Trinity student was CIA's Irish link, records show |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2007/1228/breaking13.html?via=mr |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305080737/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ex-trinity-student-was-cia-s-irish-link-records-show-1.816633?via=mr |archive-date=5 March 2016 |access-date=6 September 2008 |work=[[Irish Times]]}}</ref> In 1962–63, during the [[Cuban Missile Crisis]], [[Seán Lemass]] authorised searches of aircraft that stopped over at [[Shannon Airport|Shannon]] while flying between [[Warsaw Pact]] countries and [[Cuba]], for "warlike material".<ref>{{cite web | last = Collins | first = Stephan | title = Lemass authorised aircraft searches during Cuban crisis (Front Page) | work = [[Irish Times]]| date = 28 December 2007 | url = http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2007/1228/1198509920335.html | access-date = 6 September 2008}}</ref>

In 1952 the government agreed a secret [[memorandum of understanding]] with the UK government regarding [[air defence]], under which the [[Royal Air Force]] can apply to [[Interceptor aircraft|intercept]] hostile aircraft in Irish airspace, conscious of the lack of capability of the [[Irish Air Corps]] to do so. The agreement has been renewed by subsequent governments despite misgivings. In 2023, Senator [[Gerard Craughwell]] applied to the [[High Court (Ireland)|High Court]] for a [[judicial review]] of its constitutionality.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gallagher |first1=Conor |title=Secret Anglo-Irish air defence agreement dates back to the Cold War era |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2023/05/08/secret-anglo-irish-air-defence-agreement-dates-back-over-70-years/ |access-date=8 May 2023 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=8 May 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

Ireland applied to join the then [[European Communities]] in 1963 and finally [[Third Amendment of the Constitution of Ireland|acceded in 1973]]. [[Garret FitzGerald]], who was Minister for Foreign Affairs [[Government of the 20th Dáil|1973–77]], claims that both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in the 1960s and 1970s accepted that European integration would eventually reach a point where Ireland would have to join in defence co-operation.<ref name="FitzGerald2014"/> FitzGerald points to [[Charles Haughey]]'s opposition to the explicit mention of neutrality in a 1981 Dáil motion,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://beta.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/1981-03-11/19/|title=Defence Policy: Motion.|date=11 March 1981|work=Dáil Éireann (21st Dáil) debates|publisher=Oireachtas|access-date=2 March 2018}}</ref> stating that Haughey adopted a more pro-neutrality stance upon entering opposition later in 1981.<ref name="FitzGerald2014">{{cite book|last=FitzGerald|first=Garret|title=Ireland in the World: Further Reflections|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d6AHBAAAQBAJ&pg=PT120|access-date=2 March 2018|date=2014-06-27|publisher=Liberties Press|isbn=9781909718777|chapter=The origins, development, and present status of Irish 'neutrality"'}}</ref>

===1990s–2010s===
{{see also|Ireland–NATO relations}}
The [[24th Government of Ireland|1994 coalition government]] undertook not to change the policy of military neutrality without a referendum.<ref name="pn2133" /> That government's 1996 [[white paper]] on foreign policy stated:<ref name="pn2133">{{cite book |author=Department of Foreign Affairs |author-link=Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Ireland) |title=Challenges and opportunities abroad : white paper on foreign policy |chapter-url=http://opac.oireachtas.ie/AWData/Library3/Library2/DL033049.pdf#page=20|series=Official publications|volume=Pn.2133|date=March 1996|publisher=Stationery Office|location=Dublin|pages=15–18|chapter=Agenda for Irish Foreign Policy}}</ref>
:The majority of the Irish people have always cherished Ireland's military neutrality, and recognise the positive values that inspire it, in peace-time as well as time of war. Neutrality has been the policy of the State in the event of armed conflict and has provided the basis for Ireland's wider efforts to promote international peace and security.
It recommended joining NATO's [[Partnership for Peace]] and participating in humanitarian missions of the [[Western European Union]] (WEU), but opposed joining NATO or the WEU as incompatible with military neutrality.<ref name="pn2133" />

Ireland provided 120 Defence Forces personnel as trainers to the [[International Security Assistance Force]] mission in the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|2001–2021 Afghanistan War]].<ref name=afgha>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0608/1224298573368.html|title=€3m spent on deploying Irish troops to Afghanistan|date=8 June 2011|access-date=1 November 2011|work=[[Irish Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminerusa.com/mt/2011/06/14/irish_involvement_in_the_afgha.html|title=Irish Involvement in the Afghanistan War Has Cost Three Million Euros|date=14 June 2011|access-date=1 November 2011|work=Irish Examiner USA}}</ref> The personnel were provided under United Nations mandate.<ref name=afgha />

The [[26th Government of Ireland|Fianna Fáil-led government]] did not take a position on the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]]. Ireland, then a member of the [[UN Security Council]], voted "yes" to [[UN Security Council Resolution 1441|Resolution 1441]], which warned of "serious consequences" if Iraq did not comply with weapons inspectors. Some [[United States Air Force]] planes were allowed to refuel at [[Shannon Airport]] before and during the conflict, as were civilian aircraft transporting US military personnel; others had permission to overfly Irish air space. A [[resolution (law)|resolution]] of the Dáil on 20 March 2003 approved these arrangements.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/debateswebpack.nsf/takes/dail2003032000005|title=Foreign Conflicts: Motion.|date=20 March 2003|work=Dáil Éireann Debates|pages=Vol.563 No.3 p.5|access-date=19 December 2016}}</ref>

Anti-war activist Edward Horgan took a case in the [[High Court (Ireland)|High Court]] seeking declarations that the government, in allowing use of Shannon, had breached the state's obligations as a neutral state. While the court held that the [[Custom (law)|custom]] in [[international law]] was that "a neutral state may not permit the movement of large numbers of troops or munitions of one belligerent State through its territory en route to a theatre of war with another", it found this was not part of Irish [[domestic law]], as Irish neutrality was "a matter of government policy only". The Dáil resolution implied that letting military aircraft refuel at Shannon did not amount to "participation" in the war, and the courts had no power to overrule the Dáil on this issue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bailii.org/ie/cases/IEHC/2003/64.html|title=Horgan v. An Taoiseach|date=28 April 2003|work=High Court of Ireland Decisions|publisher=[[BAILII]]|pages=[2003] 2 IR 468, [2003] 2 ILRM 357, [2003] IEHC 64 |no-pp=y|access-date=19 December 2016}}</ref>

In 2006, the [[Minister for Defence (Ireland)|Minister for Defence]], [[Willie O'Dea]], announced that the Irish government would open talks on joining the [[European Union battle groups]]. O'Dea said that joining the battlegroups would not affect Ireland's military neutrality, and that a UN mandate would be required for all battlegroup operations with Irish participation. [[Green Party (Ireland)|Green Party]] foreign affairs spokesperson [[John Gormley]] condemned the decision, saying that the government was "discarding the remnants of Irish neutrality".<ref>{{cite web | last = O'Farrell | first = Michael | title = Legislation imminent for EU battle group role | work = Ireland | publisher = Irish Examiner | date = 10 February 2006 | url = https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-10075847.html | access-date = 4 November 2008 }}</ref>

Taoiseach [[Enda Kenny]] said in 2007: "the truth is, Ireland is not neutral. We are merely unaligned".<ref name="neutrality">National Forum on Europe (26 October 2006). [http://www.forumoneurope.ie/eng/index.asp?docID=1099 Enda Kenny calls for Unified EU Approach to Immigration] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071118211933/http://www.forumoneurope.ie/eng/index.asp?docID=1099 |date=18 November 2007 }}. Retrieved on 31 October 2007.</ref>

In 2012, the Oireachtas established a [[Oireachtas Joint Committee|joint committee]] to review [[petition]]s submitted by the public. An early petition sought clarification of government policy in relation to the use of Irish [[airspace]] by foreign military aircraft. In 2013–16 the committee held discussions with the petitioners, government members, the Secretary General of the [[Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Ireland)|Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade]], and academics,<ref>Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions (KildareStreet.com):
[https://www.kildarestreet.com/committees/?id=2013-11-27a.1338 27 Nov 2013],
[https://www.kildarestreet.com/committees/?id=2014-03-12a.313 12 Mar 2014],
[https://www.kildarestreet.com/committees/?id=2014-06-18a.563 18 Jun 2014],
[https://www.kildarestreet.com/committees/?id=2014-12-03a.744 3 Dec 2014],
[https://www.kildarestreet.com/committees/?id=2015-02-18a.1157 18 Feb 2015],
[https://www.kildarestreet.com/committees/?id=2015-06-17a.3089 17 Jun 2015],
[https://www.kildarestreet.com/committees/?id=2015-07-15a.1615 15 Jul 2015]
</ref> and issued a report, which stated:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oireachtas.ie/parliament/media/committees/psop/Shannon-Report-Final.pdf#page=10|title=. Recommendation of the Joint Committee |author=Joint Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions|date=February 2016|work=Report on Petition P00072/12 "Investigation into US Military and CIA use of Shannon Airport and Irish Airspace" from Dr. Edward Horgan and Shannonwatch|publisher=Oireachtas|page=4|access-date=19 December 2016}}</ref>
:The Joint Committee note the lacuna between what is understood by the citizens by neutrality and what is the {{lang|la|de facto}} position. Accordingly, the Joint Committee recommend that the Dáil and [[Seanad Éireann|Seanad]] debate the matter of neutrality with a view to the holding of a Referendum so that the will of the people can be determined.

In 2015, the [[29th Government of Ireland|Fine Gael–Labour government]] published a foreign policy review which stated, "Our policy of military neutrality remains a core element of Irish foreign policy."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/alldfawebsitemedia/ourrolesandpolicies/ourwork/global-island/the-global-island-irelands-foreign-policy.pdf#page=31|title=The Global Island : Ireland's Foreign Policy for a Changing World|date=13 January 2015|publisher=Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade|page=29|access-date=14 September 2017|location=Dublin}}</ref> It defined neutrality as "non-membership of military alliances and non-participation in common or mutual defence arrangements",<ref>Dept of Defence 2015 p.24</ref> while working with international organisations for peacekeeping missions.<ref>Dept of Defence 2015 p.30</ref>

[[File:RAF QRA Typhoon Intercepting Russian Bear Aircraft MOD 45158137.jpg|thumb|An RAF Typhoon intercepting a Russian Tupolev Tu-95 bomber in 2014]]
Since the [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation|Russian annexation of Crimea]], Russian [[bomber]] aircraft have deliberately flown into Irish-controlled airspace several times, without warning, and with their [[transponder]]s switched off. As the [[Irish Air Corps]] lacks air defence, the British [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) have had to intercept these bombers.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Burke |first1=Edward |title=What are Russian bombers doing in Irish airspace? |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/what-are-russian-bombers-doing-in-irish-airspace-1.4197785 |work=[[The Irish Times]] |date=10 March 2020}}</ref> In February 2015, two Russian [[Tupolev Tu-95]] "Bear" bombers flew into Irish-controlled airspace twice, with their transponders switched off.<ref>{{cite news|last1=O’Riordan|first1=Sean|title=Passenger planes dodged Russian bombers|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/passenger-planes-dodged-russian-bombers-315623.html|access-date=10 October 2015|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=3 March 2015}}</ref> The Norwegian and British militaries confirmed that the bombers were carrying [[nuclear warhead]]s.<ref>{{cite news|last1=O’Riordan|first1=Sean|title=Russian bomber in Irish air space 'had nuclear weapon'|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/russian-bomber-in-irish-air-space-had-nuclear-weapon-312161.html|access-date=10 October 2015|publisher=Irish Examiner|date=12 February 2015}}</ref> The bombers flew within 25 nautical miles of the Irish coast, and were intercepted by RAF [[Eurofighter Typhoon]] jets.<ref>{{cite news |title=Russian bombers disrupted planes in Irish airspace |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/11448452/RAF-jets-scrambed-to-intercept-Russian-bomber-aircraft-off-Cornwall.html |work=[[Telegraph.co.uk]] |date=4 March 2015}}</ref>

Ireland joined the EU's [[Permanent Structured Cooperation]] (PESCO) when it was founded in December 2017. The [[31st Government of Ireland|Fine Gael-led government]] said it would participate on a case-by-case basis and membership did not compromise neutrality. Fianna Fáil supported membership; Sinn Féin, the Greens, [[Solidarity (Ireland)|Solidarity]], and [[People Before Profit]] opposed it; the Labour Party had reservations.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thejournal.ie/eu-army-pesco-3734034-Dec2017/|title='We're being asked to sell out our neutrality': Government accused of trying to rush EU defence deal vote|last=Finn|first=Christina|date=7 December 2017|work=[[TheJournal.ie]]|access-date=24 April 2018}}; {{cite news|url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/explainer-ireland-joins-pesco-is-it-the-start-of-an-eu-army-36409443.html|title=Explainer: Ireland joins PESCO... is it the start of an EU army?|last=Bielenberg|first=Kim|date=17 December 2017|work=[[Irish Independent]]|access-date=24 April 2018}}; {{cite web|url=https://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2018-01-16a.262 |title=European Council: Statements |date=16 January 2018 |work=Dáil debates |publisher=KildareStreet.com |access-date=24 April 2018}}; {{cite web|url=https://www.kildarestreet.com/sendebates/?id=2017-12-13a.293 |title=Permanent Structured Cooperation|date=13 December 2017|work=Seanad debates|publisher=KildareStreet.com|access-date=24 April 2018}}; {{cite web|url=https://www.kildarestreet.com/committees/?id=2017-12-06a.473  |author=Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence |title=Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion |date=6 December 2017|work=Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees|publisher=KildareStreet.com|access-date=24 April 2018}}</ref>

===Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine===
In January 2022, during the [[Prelude to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|buildup to the Russian invasion of Ukraine]], Russia [[2022 Russian military exercise in the Irish EEZ controversy|controversially announced plans]] to hold naval drills about 150 nautical miles off the coast, within Ireland's [[exclusive economic zone]]. It was to involve naval artillery and missiles.  Local fishermen protested to the Russian embassy and announced they would continue to fish in the area regardless. Russia's Ambassador to Ireland, [[Yury Anatoliyevich Filatov|Yury Filatov]], warned the fishermen to "refrain from any provocative actions which might endanger all involved".<ref>{{cite news |title=How a group of Irish fishermen forced the Russian Navy into a U-turn |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/01/31/europe/ireland-fishermen-russia-navy-intl/index.html |work=[[CNN]] |date=31 January 2022}}</ref> Eventually, in response to requests from the Irish government, Russia's Minister of Defence [[Sergey Shoigu]] agreed to move the naval drills further away from Ireland.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40796319.html|title=Russia will not carry out naval exercises off Cork coast 'as gesture of goodwill'|publisher=[[Irish Examiner]]|author-first=Caitlín|author-last=Griffin|date=29 January 2022|access-date=24 February 2022}}</ref>

In a Dáil discussion that month on the Russo-Ukrainian crisis, [[Richard Boyd Barrett]] of [[People Before Profit]] asked:<ref name="dail20220125">{{multiref|
{{cite web |title=Ministerial Rota for Parliamentary Questions: Motion |url=https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2022-01-25/7/#s8 |website=Dáil Éireann (33rd Dáil) debates |publisher=Oireachtas |access-date=26 January 2022 |language=en-ie |date=25 January 2022}}|
{{cite news |last1=Duffy |first1=Rónán |title=Taoiseach: Ireland 'not politically neutral but militarily neutral' as Ukraine travel advice is updated |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/training-exercise-russia-ireland-5664154-Jan2022/ |access-date=26 January 2022 |work=TheJournal.ie |date=25 January 2022 |language=en}}
}}</ref>
:Why does the Government correctly condemn Russian military exercises in Irish waters but allow the US military to use Shannon Airport [?] ... Neutrality means not taking sides in dangerous conflicts and game-playing between major imperial powers.
Taoiseach [[Micheál Martin]] replied:<ref name="dail20220125"/>
:Ireland accepts Ukrainian territorial integrity [...] We're not politically neutral but we're militarily neutral. It's an important distinction. We're members of the European Union. We work with our European Union colleagues in terms of rules-based multilateral approaches to international disputes.

In response to Russia's [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|invasion of Ukraine]] on 24 February 2022, the [[Tánaiste]] [[Leo Varadkar]] stated that while Ireland is not militarily aligned, the country is "not neutral at all" in relation to this conflict and that "support for Ukraine is unwavering and unconditional".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/ireland-is-not-neutral-says-t%C3%A1naiste-as-70-irish-citizens-remain-in-ukraine-1.4811139|title=Ireland is 'not neutral', says Tánaiste as 70 Irish citizens remain in Ukraine|publisher=[[The Irish Times]]|author-first=Sarah|author-last=Burns|date=24 February 2022|access-date=24 February 2022}}</ref> Days later the [[Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade(Ireland)|Department of Foreign Affairs]] said it would "constructively abstain" from an EU fund for [[List of military aid to Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War|military aid to Ukraine]], but contribute instead to a fund that did not include weaponry.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=David |title=Ireland 'constructively abstains' from EU arms package |url=https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2022/0226/1283234-irish-airspace/ |access-date=28 February 2022 |work=RTÉ News |date=27 February 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

Since the invasion, the Irish Navy and Air Corps have increasingly observed Russian "spy ships" believed to be mapping critical undersea communications cables and energy pipelines off the Irish coast. Some of them are escorted by Russian warships and are fitted with equipment for sabotaging undersea cables.<ref>{{cite news |title=Navy vessel escorts Russian 'subsea spy ship' out of Irish water |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41517743.html |work=[[Irish Examiner]] |date=16 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Defence Forces monitor armed Russian naval vessel off west coast |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2023/05/07/defence-forces-monitor-armed-russian-naval-vessel-off-west-coast/ |work=[[The Irish Times]] |date=7 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Russians may have been mapping cables off Ireland since 2014, expert claims |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-40797225.html |work=[[Irish Examiner]] |date=31 January 2022}}</ref>

In March 2023 a bill to hold a referendum on Irish membership in a hypothetical [[European army]] was opposed by the government, who called it "unnecessary".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Loughlin |first1=Elaine |last2=Hosford |first2=Paul |title=Government to oppose 'unnecessary' bill on holding neutrality referendum |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/politics/arid-40839860.html |website=[[Irish Examiner]] |date=29 March 2022 |access-date=15 July 2023}}</ref> Micheál Martin said that if the referendum had taken place he was confident it would have passed and that Ireland needs to 'reflect' on the issue of neutrality.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hosford |first1=Paul |title=Ireland needs to 'reflect' on military neutrality — Taoiseach |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/politics/arid-40890692.html |website=[[Irish Examiner]] |date=8 June 2022 |access-date=15 July 2023}}</ref>

A [[Consultative Forum on International Security Policy]] was held in Dublin, Cork and Galway during 2023. It was a public forum to discuss Ireland's foreign, security and defence policy. Micheál Martin, then Minister for Defence and Foreign Affairs, said every country in Europe had reviewed their defence and security in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pepper |first1=Diarmuid |title=Tánaiste Micheál Martin is 'developing proposals' around Ireland's neutrality |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/tanaiste-micheal-martin-is-developing-proposals-around-irelands-neutrality-6027927-Mar2023/ |website=[[TheJournal.ie]] |date=24 March 2023 |access-date=15 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Webber |first1=Jude |title=Ireland opens debate on future of military neutrality |url=https://www.ft.com/content/67279122-7cf4-41ad-bc98-24fe8a51538f |website=[[Financial Times]] |access-date=15 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Finn |first1=Christina |title=Public forum examining Ireland's neutrality to be held in Dublin, Galway and Cork in June |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/national-forum-irelands-neutrality-6036486-Apr2023/ |website=[[TheJournal.ie]] |date=5 April 2023 |access-date=15 July 2023}}</ref> [[President of Ireland]], [[Michael D. Higgins]], rebuffed the forum, saying that Ireland was drifting away from neutrality and "playing with fire". His comments were criticised by government ministers.<ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Connor |first1=Niall |title=Tánaiste defends forum as President claims Ireland is 'playing with fire' in neutrality 'drift' |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/michael-d-higgins-neutrality-nato-micheal-martin-6096331-Jun2023/ |website=[[TheJournal.ie]] |date=18 June 2023 |access-date=15 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Downing |first1=John |last2=McTaggart |first2=Maeve |title=Tánaiste Micheál Martin strongly rebuffs comments by President Michael D Higgins on military neutrality and foreign policy 'drift' |url=https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/tanaiste-micheal-martin-strongly-rebuffs-comments-by-president-michael-d-higgins-on-military-neutrality-and-foreign-policy-drift/a255334157.html |website=[[Irish Independent]] |date=18 June 2023 |access-date=15 July 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sherlock |first1=Cillian |last2=Black |first2=Rebecca |title=Tánaiste 'developing proposals around neutrality' |url=https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/irish-deputy-premier-developing-proposals-around-neutrality-1452714.html |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |access-date=15 July 2023}}</ref> The forum was disrupted by anti-NATO protesters from the [[Connolly Youth Movement]]; with Martin describing them as "undemocratic" and "trying to shut down debate".<ref>{{cite news |title=Martin hits out at 'incoherent' protesters who were removed during forum speech in Cork |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster/arid-41167795.html |work=[[Irish Examiner]] |date=22 June 2023}}</ref> Boyd Barrett accused those involved in the forum of "trying to soften up public opinion to abandoning Ireland's neutrality."<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Halloran |first1=Marie |title=Ireland is not neutral about Ukraine, Taoiseach insists in renewed row over constitutional position |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/politics/2022/11/15/ireland-is-not-neutral-about-ukraine-taoiseach-insists-in-renewed-row-over-constitutional-position/ |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |access-date=15 July 2023}}</ref>

==United Nations peacekeeping==
[[Irish Defence Forces]] have seen active service as part of United Nations [[peacekeeping]] activities{{spaced ndash}}initially in the early 1960s [[Congo Crisis]], and subsequently in [[Cyprus]] ([[UNFICYP]]) and [[Lebanon]] ([[UNIFIL]]).

==Weapons control==
A 2004 report by [[Forfás]] noted that the policy of neutrality is a factor in Ireland's lack of an [[arms industry]] and strict [[export control]]s on weapons.<ref name="forfas">Forfás 2004, §2.4.1, 3.1.4, 6.3.1</ref> The latter were previously enforced by the Control of Exports (Goods and Technology) Order 2009,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2009/en/si/0305.html|title=S.I. No. 305/2009 – Control of Exports (Goods and Technology) Order 2009|work=Irish Statute Book|publisher=Attorney General|access-date=2 March 2012|location=Dublin}}</ref> a [[statutory instrument]] made under the Control of Exports Act 1983.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/1983/en/act/pub/0035/index.html|title=Control of Exports Act, 1983|work=Irish Statute Book|publisher=Attorney General|access-date=2 March 2012|location=Dublin}}</ref> The 2009 order was replaced by the Control of Exports (Goods and Technology) Order 2012, which reflects the 2008 EU Common Position on Arms Exports.<ref name="dail20180419a69"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2012/si/216/made/en/print|title=S.I. No. 216/2012 – Control of Exports (Goods and Technology) Order 2012.|work=[[Irish Statute Book]]|access-date=24 April 2018}}</ref> The 2004 Forfás report noted concerns about [[dual-use technology]] and the use as weapons components of products from [[Economy of the Republic of Ireland|major Irish export industries]] such as chemicals, telecommunications equipment, computer chips and software.<ref>Forfás 2004, §§2.2.6, 3.10.3, 6.5.6</ref> The state is also bound by EU regulations and international [[arms control]] treaties.<ref>Forfás 2004, pp.17–18</ref><ref name="dail20180419a69"/> In 2017, four export licence applications were refused for dual-use items.<ref name="dail20180419a69">{{cite web|url=https://www.kildarestreet.com/wrans/?id=2018-04-18a.69|title=Military Exports|date=18 April 2018|work=Written answers|publisher=KildareStreet.com|access-date=24 April 2018}}</ref> In the 1980s and early 1990s, successive governments rebuffed proposals by companies including [[Eurometaal]] and [[Thyssen Henschel]] to establish arms manufacturing and repair plants in the state, on the grounds that it might compromise neutrality and that there was then no specific legislation limiting the area to which the arms could be exported.<ref>{{cite news |title=Attempts to build Irish arms industry failed due to concerns over neutrality and misuse by rogue regimes |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/history/2024/12/29/attempts-to-build-irish-arms-industry-failed-due-to-concerns-over-neutrality-and-misuse-by-rogue-regimes/ |access-date=14 January 2025 |work=The Irish Times |date=29 December 2024 |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Foreign relations of the Republic of Ireland]]
*[[Ireland–NATO relations]]
*[[Neutral states]]
*[[Neutral member states in the European Union]]
*[[History of Ireland]]
*[[History of Northern Ireland]]
*[[Conscription in Ireland]]
*[[Irish Shipping Limited]]
*[[Seville Declarations on the Treaty of Nice]]
*[[Visa policy of Ireland]]

==References==

===Sources===
* {{cite book  |first1=Ben  |last1=Tonra |first2=Michael  |last2=Kennedy  |first3=John  |last3=Doyle   |first4=Noel  |last4=Dorr   |title=Irish Foreign Policy|date=13 April 2012|publisher=Gill & MacMillan|isbn=9780717152643}}
* {{cite journal |last=Fanning|first=Ronan|year=1982|title=Irish Neutrality: An Historical Review|journal=Irish Studies in International Affairs|publisher=Royal Irish Academy|volume=1|issue=3|pages=27–38|jstor=30001722 }}
*  {{cite web|url=http://www.djei.ie/publications/trade/2004/exportmilitarydualuse.pdf|title=Export Licensing of Military and Dual-Use Goods in Ireland|author1=Forfás|author2=Fitzpatrick Associates|author3=Stockholm International Peace Research Institute|author3-link=Stockholm International Peace Research Institute|date=May 2004|publisher=Interdepartmental Group on Export Licensing of Military and Dual-Use Goods in Ireland|access-date=2 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111226015726/http://www.djei.ie/publications/trade/2004/exportmilitarydualuse.pdf|archive-date=26 December 2011|url-status=dead}}
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.defence.ie/WebSite.nsf/WP2015E|publisher=[[Department of Defence (Ireland)|Department of Defence]] |date=August 2015 |title=White Paper on Defence |access-date=14 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201032254/http://www.defence.ie/WebSite.nsf/WP2015E |archive-date=1 February 2017 |url-status=dead }}

===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book  | last = Brown | first = Terence | title = Ireland: A Social and Cultural History, 1922 to the Present | publisher = [[Cornell University Press]] | year = 1985 | location = Ithaca | isbn = 978-0-8014-1731-3 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Tonra |first1=Ben |chapter=Security, defence and neutrality |title=Global citizen and European Republic: Irish foreign policy in transition |date=19 July 2013 |doi=10.7765/9781847792358.00013 |publisher=Manchester University Press |isbn=9781847792358 |pages=153–180 }}

==External links==
* [http://www.pana.ie/ Irish Peace and Neutrality Alliance]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050218102349/http://www.clubi.ie/cind/ Campaign for Irish Neutrality and Democracy]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050424190333/http://www.finegael.ie/PubUploads/Beyond%20Neutrality.pdf Fine Gael "Beyond Neutrality" Document (pdf)]
* [http://www.finegael.ie/PubUploads/Beyond%20Neutrality%20QA.doc,%20Thursday,%20May%2029.doc/ Beyond Neutrality Questions and Answers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205072127/http://www.finegael.ie//PubUploads/Beyond%20Neutrality%20QA.doc,%20Thursday,%20May%2029.doc |date=5 December 2008 }}
* [http://www.secondworldwarni.org Second World War online resource for NI] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070621041418/http://secondworldwarni.org/ |date=21 June 2007 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Irish Neutrality}}
[[Category:Foreign relations of Ireland]]
[[Category:International relations theory]]
[[Category:Non-interventionism]]
[[Category:Neutrality by country]]