Those who oppose the Lisbon Treaty claim that this sovereign agreement of 27 European governments erodes Irish neutrality, leads to a greater militarisation of the EU and will oblige Ireland to spend more in pursuing our defence policies.

The legal guarantee for Ireland agreed at the last EU leaders' summit concerning security and defence matters does clarify many issues raised by voters last year during the Lisbon treaty referendum campaign.

This guarantee states clearly the following points:

? There is no threat in the Lisbon treaty to Ireland's traditional policy of neutrality.

? The Lisbon Treaty does not provide for the creation of a European army or for conscription.

? It does not affect the right for Ireland or any other EU member state to determine the nature and the volume of its defence and security expenditure.

The proposed constitutional amendment to ratify the Lisbon treaty re-affirms the prohibition on joining a common EU defence arrangement. This means that Ireland could not join any future common EU defence structure unless the people specifically voted for it.

We must also recall that any deployment of Irish troops overseas must satisfy the requirements of the 'triple lock' arrangement whereby approval to send troops on a peacekeeping mission overseas must be approved by the Irish government, Dáil Eireann and is authorised under a specific mandate of the United Nations.

Irish membership of the European Defence Agency is voluntary, as is our participation in any of the agency's programmes, which we assess on a case-by-case basis.

Ireland's much respected policy position of neutrality is fully protected under the terms of both the Lisbon treaty and this new legally binding guarantee on security and defence issues.

Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP,

Dungloe,

Co Donegal