Add in the military industrial complex Noam Chomsky intersectionality and that almost covers all the reasons for our stance

Geography trauma of colonial occupation defense spending viewed as frivolous and limits on how we build up our own army

Apartheid Israel murdered at least 44 Palestinians in Gaza today in violation of the ceasefire. On Friday, they murdered a family of 11. The international community will hide behind the so-called ceasefire to avoid ending the impunity that enables these crimes. We can't let it. #EndIsraeliImpunity

Remembering that Ukraine was a neutral country and not in NATO at the time (or since). But somehow it's more worthy of criticism than Russia which was massing troops and materiel on its borders 🤷

Cant see they have me blocked does anyone have a picture of what the poster said?

They weren't out there calling Mick Wallace and Clare Daly "two respected parliamentarians"

There is a jarring level of ignorance in Ireland towards countries that border Russia , which is wild given our experiences as nations are so similar

Hopefully some individuals wont get a fit of the vapours

I dunno but Catherine Connolly’s idea that Ireland has special knowledge on the world because of the Troubles and the famine is so bonkers to me.

Like the level of ignorance to what happened in Eastern Europe in the 20th century that said part of the world is now fearful of.

It’s Disney mindset

Complete failure to recognize that other European countries are in different geopolitical situations that do not apply to us (and, to be fair, vice versa).

For what it's worth dały and wallace not getting re-elected helped with this but having a president being the same level of stupid is them is worse

Calm them Wallace and Vomit for good reason

Ireland couldn't join NATO because of our disputed border with the UK, which was only resolved in 1998. We did offer to do if we got Nortern Ireland back.
Most Irish people consider most UK & US wars as neo-colonial and unnecessary. They tend to conflate this with NATO.

A damning read. Perfectly articulating the blind spots of Connolly and her ilk. Ireland need to wake up to the realities of Russian fascist imperialism and not simply criticise those who are taking steps to defend Europe.

Painfully embarrassing to watch

if it was possible to swap the geographical locations of Ireland and like, Lithuania, we would see less of this insane victim blaming

It's gonna have to stop pretty soon because Europeans have noticed in the last three years and eventually fantasy is going to collide against the wall of reality

Out of sight, out of mind. That’s the general attitude in Ireland. Letting others worry about defense and security and then judging them for it.

I invite people to criticise the EU approach to Russia but you do have to 1) convincingly admit the threat and 2) come up with an alternative plan and why it will work.

Many ideas for how to cut German defence spending, none to cut Russia‘s. Or why giving up land for peace will work the 10th time.

Putin and Netanyahu’s ideas for “peace” are the same. For “peace” They both want huge pieces of land that they will then ethnically cleanse the indigenous residents.

He kidnapped 20k children.

Why make this a competition of suffering, there’s so much scope for solidarity between Ukrainian and Palestinian victims of occupying neighbours.

Who would've guessed that really loud twitter tankies don't actually represent national opinion.

I’m kind of curious to watch it *because* I don’t really like any of them! Never felt so undecided in any Irish election in my life, thankfully it’s only the presidential.

Yeah this is doubly offensive on that angle, but I think that’s the reason bollox like this gets so many nods of approval in some progressive quarters here.

Either we step in for Ukraine now, or Ukraine falls. If Ukraine falls, it empowers Putin to continue his expansionism in other countries.

Our neutrality is a strategic choice, and a perfectly legitimate one at that, given our geography. But the notion that we have stayed out of NATO as an expression of our superior moral virtue (unlike those warmongering Baltic states) suggests we might need to get over ourselves.

As a Lithuanian with an Irish partner I beg people to stop trying to suggest either of our countries had it harder.

I’m all for people debating the extent of defence spending Europe needs or Irelands place (or lack of) in any defence cooperation at an EU level but talking like Russia isn’t a serious military threat to the EU in 2025 is just not serious.

How many people in Lithuania or Finland feel that way?

Imagine these scenes occurring in any other Western European capital city. They would not be tolerated. But we let the Ukrainians take this night after night.

And defensive war is necessary much of the time, because the horrors that come with capitulation are so much worse. We see that now in Syria (which is now going a second round), and we see that in Ukraine. Both of those changed my opinions on a lot of defense related things rather quickly.