Security

No referendum on neutrality by this government, Taoiseach says

Leo Varadkar insisted there was no “perceived outcome’ of the government’s security forum and that it was not about Nato membership or changing the Irish state’s policy on neutrality

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar: “There isn’t a requirement to have a referendum to join Nato. But I think if we were ever to contemplate that we probably would have a referendum, but that is not on the agenda of this government.” Picture: Julien Behal Photography / RollingNews.ie

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said his government will not hold a referendum on neutrality as there is no intention to join Nato or depart from the state’s traditional stance of military neutrality.

“I’ve never heard of the idea of having a referendum on not joining an organisation. You have a referendum because you are going to join the organisation,” Varadkar said to reporters at Dublin Castle this morning.

“There isn’t a requirement to have a ...