Connolly’s claim the country doesn’t need an army is a disgrace – Callaghan

Deputy Catherine Callaghan has today called on Deputy Catherine Connolly to clarify her Dáil remarks that we “don’t need an army”.

In the Dáil last year during a debate on the Defence Bill, Deputy Catherine Connolly said: ‘This is not an army. Ireland will never be able to have an army. We do not need an army. We are an independent, neutral, sovereign country. Our strength lies in our independent voice. Our strength lies in making the UN institutions function better.’

Former Defence Forces member Catherine Callaghan said the Presidential candidate needs to clarify this immediately.

“Deputy Connolly’s Dáil record clearly shows she doesn’t think we need an army – so she clearly doesn’t believe in the men and women of Óglaigh na hEireann, much less respect their role in keeping our country and our citizens safe.

“That’s a disgraceful position to adopt for anyone asking the citizens of this country to elect her as President of Ireland and supreme commander of the Irish Defence Forces.

“She needs to address this. Thousands of people have served this country proudly at home and abroad. This is an insult to them and their service.

“She repeatedly asks for a referendum on the reform of the triple lock, even though she should well know the triple lock is primary legislation and is determined by the law makers – ie members of the Oireachtas, where I am lucky to serve.

“Deputy Connolly doesn’t trust the Defence Forces to make informed decisions in relation to where we send our peacekeeping troops, but she trusts Russia to decide for us and yet she asks this country to elect her as supreme commander of the Irish Defence Forces.

“The reform of the triple lock is not a proposal to remove our military neutrality. It is a proposal to trust the professionalism of the most experienced members of our Defence Forces.

“It’s a proposal to not have to request permission from Russia, China, US, UK or France as to where our peacekeepers go to do what they do best – protect innocent people and bring peace.

“Our Defence Forces have a very important role to play in national security but not if Catherine Connolly had her way – we’d have no Defence Forces at all,” Deputy Callaghan said.