Protecting Irish neutrality will be a top priority for Lynn Boylan MEP as she joins the EU’s Defence and Security committee.
Lynn, who is the Sinn Féin MEP for Dublin, will be the only Irish MEP on the committee.
It is more important now than ever before to ensure our neutrality’s both protected and respected by an increasingly militarised EU according to Lynn.
“We’ve seen increasing pressure from the Irish government, from various commentators, and from the EU itself for Ireland to move away from our policy of neutrality.
“From constantly being labelled as freeloaders and a ‘weak link’ by these commentators, to the Irish government actively pushing to scrap the triple lock, there’s a coordinated effort to undermine our neutrality.
Lynn emphasised that Ireland’s defence shortcomings, from a shortage of personnel, to substandard equipment was the response of decades of neglect and underinvestment.
“Everyone agrees that we need to see increased investment in the Defence Forces, but we must not let the government use this as a smokescreen to undermine our neutrality itself.
“I’m determined to use my place on this committee to be a strong voice for protecting Irish neutrality in Europe.
“We must not be dragged into any of Ursula von der Leyen’s warmongering.”
