Photograph: Niall Carson/PA WireIreland’s position of politically supporting Ukraine while remaining militarily neutral is a “difficult path” to follow, a senior Irish official has said after being challenged to explain Irish neutrality at a defence conference in France. “It is a difficult path or line to us to follow, but that’s the line,” Department of Defence secretary general Jacqui McCrum told an audience at the Paris Defence and Strategy Forum on Wednesday. “I’m very cognisant of the remarks made by your current president and your former president,” Walter said. “I think the debate on defence is possibly changing,” McCrum told the audience. Sometimes people think defence is war and attacking people.

Source: The Irish Times March 25, 2026 23:43 UTC