Peace and Neutrality Alliance - PANA

04/06/2026

From the crash to housing, each generation has lived through political failures in Ireland. Let’s not sleepwalk into militarisation and abandoning our neutrality. https://www.thejournal.ie/readme/ireland-recession-housing-crisis-7050719-May2026/

The Robert Tressell Festival will take place in the RDS Concert Hall, Dublin, this Saturday 6th June. Former Labour Party leader and current MP Jeremy Corbyn is set to speak at the event along with appearances from Michael D & Sabina Higgins. Join us on Saturday as we provoke debate, stimulate ideas and drive solidarity while celebrating working-class culture and trade union values. Doors at 11.30am
Last tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/robert-tressell-festival-2026-tickets-1986413506270

Tipperary Neutrality Network call to Defend Irish Neutrality and Protect the Triple Lock
https://my.uplift.ie/petitions/tipperary-neutrality-network-call-to-defend-irish-neutrality-and-protect-the-triple-lock

Germany Booted Out From UNSC After 55 Years For 'Supporting Genocidal Israel' | Humiliation For Merz … Germany’s unprecedented failure to win one of the rotating seats on the UN security council has prompted an intense round of soul searching in Berlin and raised questions about its claims to international leadership under Friedrich Merz.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2CNqXo0CXg

Germany calls for end to EU unanimity rule to stop decision-making 'standstill'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkaEUf3F-ag

Jeffrey Sachs: Germany Is Leading Europe Toward World War III
Interview with Glenn Diesen he discusses his open letter to Chancellor Friedrich Merz, RECORDED ON MAY 31, 2026.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgOJXWqk0io

03/06/2026

Afri Ireland are honoured to be joined this year by Walk Leaders, Donnah Sibanda Vuma, Patrick Bresnihan, Moya Cannon and Declan O’Rourke, who will guide us through this year’s theme: A Road to Remember, A Call That Remains.
Meet this year’s Walk Leaders in the slides, and find the full brochure and tickets through the QR code or this link: https://bit.ly/4vv98yY
This moving journey of remembrance and solidarity illuminates how the horrors of forced displacement, starvation, dehumanisation and militarism persist today, calling us into shared struggle for justice and liberation across time and place.
We would love if you could join us!

Padraig Mannion, chair of PANA was one of the speakers at a recent public meeting in Palmerstown Community Centre on Protecting Irish Neutrality organised by the WP…

Following a hugely successful 2025 conference, Left Eire is back at An Táin Arts Centre in Dundalk on 6th and 7th June 2026 for another weekend of ideas, connection, and collective action. There is a nice line up of speakers for the 11.30am workshop on Neutrality and Militarism. The event is organised by Dundalk Communities United, full details and ticket information can be found here
https://www.lefteire.ie/
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Sinn Féin and the Social Democrats will bring motions to the Dáil calling for a boycott of the Nations League fixtures against apartheid Israel. These games must not go ahead. For more information…
https://www.ipsc.ie/action-item/fai

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THE HORRORS OF WAR AND THE LESSONS OF HISTORY:
Friday 31st May marked the 85th anniversary of the North Strand Bombing. On 31st May 1941 the Luftwaffe dropped four bombs on the area, killing at least 28 people, injuring many more and destroying 300 buildings. The horrific events were remembered today at the location of the atrocity. The impact of war was vividly remembered at the Dublin City Council event. Local activist Brian Treacy delivered a powerful speech in which the events were recalled, those who suffered were remembered and the importance of Irelands neutrality and the Triple Lock were reiterated.

01/06/2026

30/05/2026

Europe drives global military spending to record $2.9 trillion
The 29 European NATO members spent a combined total of $559 billion in 2025, and 22 of them had military spending of at least 2.0 per cent of GDP, according to SIPRI. The main narrative that drives western military spending is the so-called Russian threat, but many fail to recognise a corresponding threat felt by many nations in the Global South, who fear ongoing intervention and exploitation by this same western US/EU/NATO alliance. So how can we stop this arms race and encourage diplomacy and real global security? … https://www.sipri.org/media/press-release/2026/global-military-spending-rise-continues-european-and-asian-expenditures-surge

Former Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster now sits in the UK House of Lords as a non-affiliated life peer, holding the title Baroness Foster of Aghadrumsee. In this short clip she states clearly the need to ramp up defence spending by cutting welfare. The UK spends around \(\$89.0\) billion annually on defence, equating to approximately \(2.3\%\) of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0cjo3f68OO8

Yes, we need to modernise the Defence Forces and improve wages and conditions for both serving and retired members but has the Minister for Defence Helen McEntee a hidden agenda on their future role. How will she finance her plans to ramp up Irish defence spending? In February, she announced Ireland would enter into a government-to-government deal with France to acquire Scorpion vehicles. The deal will be worth anything from €600 million to €1 billion depending on sources.
Whilst the Irish Army has historically focused on UN peacekeeping, with light military/policing equipment, the proposed acquisition of more Scorpion vehicles marks a shift toward more enhanced protected mobility, firepower, and interoperability – aligning with EU/NATO combat forces.
In June 2025, the Irish government signed a contract with Thales to provide a towed sonar system for the Irish Naval Service, enhancing subsea surveillance and infrastructure protection capabilities. The system is expected to enter service in 2027.
https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2026/05/15/new-army-vehicles-under-french-deal-can-automatically-target-perceived-threats-using-ai/
Sources have said that there is a growing issue of inflation in defence procurement as Europe rearms and also provides huge quantities of arms to Ukraine.
https://www.thejournal.ie/french-company-knds-to-provide-new-armoured-vehicles-for-irish-military-as-negotiations-begin-6966577-Feb2026/
People’s Movement News…https://www.people.ie/news/PN-285.pdf

India hosted the recent BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi as global conflicts and economic uncertainty intensify. The expanded bloc now includes Iran, the UAE, Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia alongside Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMxmYztIdEQ

27/05/2026

As more people develop an understanding on the nature of western imperialism, they agree the need for a collective struggle, against those well organised vested interests, like those pro-Israeli funders, and those military defence or corporate lobbyists.
‘Great March for Gaza & International Justice’.
On Saturday 6th June, marchers will be leaving Lurgan town centre at 8.30am sharp and make their way to Newry, a distance of 25 miles - the equivalent length of the Gaza Strip. Please support… https://www.facebook.com/IPSCLurgan/
Activists here are also calling for ‘No to the Thales Expansion’…see their leaflet below.
First Minister Michelle O'Neill also said she is "incredulous" at a UK government deal for a Belfast factory to supply air defence missiles to Ukraine, she said that "rather than buying weapons of war, I would rather see the money invested in public services".
The UK government recently announced that the Thales missile factory is to supply 5,000 air defence missiles to Ukraine in a deal worth up to £1.6bn. O'Neill said she believed "the focus of the international community should always be to work towards negotiation and peace settlements".
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgl0z7gxpg2o

In Cork, activists oppose the operations of Collins Aerospace in Cork, heavily criticizing its ties to parent company Raytheon (RTX), highlighting the facility's production of dual-use technology and its role in the global military-industrial complex.
https://www.irishexaminer.com/business/companies/arid-41711888.html

Shannonwatch has led a campaign to oppose the US military re-fuelling at Shannon Airport, transiting supplies to their military bases throughout the Middle East.
https://www.facebook.com/ShannonwatchIreland/

In Dublin, among the many groups and activities, we must highlight the ongoing work of the People’s Movement, their monthly protest outside Dail Eireann, No to EU/NATO Militarisation…Save the Triple Lock. Also, their regular well researched News…
https://www.people.ie/news/PN-285.pdf

Can The Occupied Territories Bill Have Impact Without Services?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8edjUR5WM0&t=339s
This debate on the Tonight Show is interesting, on the "Services" Exclusion: Approximately 70% of Ireland's trade with Israel is in services rather than physical goods. By excluding services, the Government has avoided directly targeting the digital/tech and financial sectors, which many argue is a calculated move to avoid upsetting the US tech giants operating in Ireland.

20/05/2026

PANA works with a variety of international groupings including the World Peace Council, and our chair Padraig Mannion wished all those peace activists who gathered on the 9/10th May for a European meeting in Prague every success, in the fight against imperialism, militarism, and war. The Opening Remarks by the President of WPC, Pallab Sengupta included…The war in Ukraine, now in its fifth year, continues to claim countless lives. The WPC’s consistent position—that this is an imperialist conflict rooted in NATO expansion and geopolitical competition— has been vindicated. We oppose any violation of sovereignty, but we also clearly identify the broader imperialist framework that fuels this war. The refusal of the United States, NATO, and the European Union to pursue genuine negotiations, combined with sanctions and military escalation, prolongs the suffering of the peoples involved…
The Middle East remains a central theatre of imperialist aggression. At its heart lies the unresolved question of Palestine. For decades, the Palestinian people have endured occupation, displacement, and violence. The recent devastating attacks on Gaza and ongoing repression in the West Bank highlight the brutality of Israeli policies, carried out with the full backing of the United States and the complicity of the European Union.
For more information on this event tap on the link below.
https://uspeacecouncil.org/proceedings-of-the-wpc-secretariat-meeting-prague-czech-republic-may-9-10-2026/

There are currently two vacant Dáil seats with the associated bye elections for 1 seat each in the Dublin Central and Galway West constituencies taking place this Friday 22 May, please make Irish neutrality an election issue.

Dr. Margaret Connolly, the sister of Ireland's president Catherine Connolly, has been kidnapped by Israel after the vessel she was on was intercepted by the Israeli military⁠. Dr. Connolly was travelling on the vessel Blue Toys as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla to deliver aid to Gaza.⁠ Social Democrat leader TD Holly Cairns said there are "so many actions the Irish government can take". "It's time for you to use your voice, to use your power, to do something about this. Instead of people feeling like they need to come up with their own... to put their lives at risk to get aid into Gaza."
President Catherine Connolly has said she is “very proud” of her sister Dr Margaret Connolly, who was today detained by Israeli forces while part of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.
https://www.facebook.com/peoplesmovementireland

In a recent development, the President of Botswana, who faced criticism from Africans across the continent for a video that surfaced online…Interesting report here on Pan-Africanism Vs Macron’s neocolonialism
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1932222677420453

17/05/2026

Well done Uplift - People Powered Change, for this great video clip, covering the recent protest outside the Fianna Fail Ard Fheis in Dublin, highlighting Irish neutrality and the importance of maintaining the Triple Lock...You may have to tap on the post below for it to play.

17/05/2026

The 2026 Roger Casement Summer School was opened on Friday 15th May by President Catherine Connolly at the Eblana Club, in Dun Laoghaire, and she was introduced by Dave Alvey (Chair RCSS). This was followed by an excellent debate on Irish Neutrality: Standing against Militarism, with speakers Rory Rowan and Fionn Wallace, and this session was chaired by Senator Alice-Mary Higgins.
Edward Horgan, an activist with Shannonwatch, Veterans for Peace, and PANA, gave a great talk on Saturday, titled ‘Neutrality, morality, war, peace, and the abuse of power’. This session was chaired by another peace activist Carol Fox. If you would like to read this talk by Edward, or a compilation of his many letters to the Editor, or information on his latest book, please go to the PANA website at this link https://www.pana.ie/
The Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) organised a National March on Saturday to mark the 78th anniversary of Nakba Day (Day of the Catastrophe) in Dublin, along with other events throughout the country – we are marching to highlight that the so-called ‘Gaza ceasefire’ remains a fiction; the military occupation continues, and Israel has violated the ‘ceasefire’ more than 2,500 times over the past six months, killing some 750 people and injuring 2,100 more. The entry of aid, fuel and food is still controlled and highly restricted by Israel, with only 37% of the promised supplies having been delivered, while 77% of Gaza’s population now experiences acute food insecurity, and Gaza remains in ruins.
https://www.ipsc.ie/event/dublin-national-demonstration-for-palestine-end-78-years-of-ongoing-nakba

13/05/2026

Forward Ireland activists took part in the annual May Day march in Dublin. Among the speakers were Gerry Rooney (former PDFORRA general secretary) on the need to save Irish Neutrality) and Aisling Hedderman (CATU) on the housing crisis. These are key issues which we must fight for in our communities. https://www.facebook.com/forwardirel/

For more information on various events organised by the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign around the country please go to link … https://www.ipsc.ie/

International Conference Against War
https://www.facebook.com/stopthewarcoalition

10/05/2026

Today anti-war activists attended the May monthly protest at Shannon Airport (second Sunday of the month 2-3pm), organised by Shannonwatch, including members of PANA. For more information on PANA, to subscribe to our mailing list, to become a member, or if you wish to research our vast library on Irish neutrality and foreign affairs, please go to our website… https://www.pana.ie/
Despite various divisions in the US/EU/NATO alliance, western leaders still maintain an imperialist mindset, a need to dominate the Global South. Mainstream media have praised Mark Carney of Canada for standing up to President Trump, fair enough, and we must welcome Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez for standing up to Israel, however these personalities don’t plan to change that western mindset. Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez has called on the EU to establish a joint army, saying the bloc must take a more decisive role on the global stage while emphasising the need, along with German Chancellor Merz and Ursula von der Leyen, for collective defense mechanisms.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (former German Defence Minister) has called for taking advantage of Viktor Orbán’s electoral defeat in Hungary to push for qualified majority voting in EU foreign policy. She agreed with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to work in the coming weeks to strengthen the EU's relationship with the military alliance. "We discussed the upcoming NATO Summit and how we can upscale defence industrial output in Europe. We agreed to work closely together in the next weeks to strengthen the EU-NATO relationship and prepare a successful Summit in Ankara," she added.
The recent state visit by UK King Charles 111 to President Trump in April, was aimed at strengthening this Western Alliance and to repeat that narrative ‘our shared values’, delivered earlier that month by NATO’s Mark Rutte, and earlier again by our own Taoiseach Micheál Martin on his St Patrick’s Day visit to the White House. (See post here 19th March)

Filmmaker and journalist, Abbey Martin, has agreed to a special screening her film on the global environmental cost of the US war machine in The New Theatre, Dublin, on 14 May at 7pm. Tickets, €11.50 including booking fee, are on sale now.
The film is a searing indictment of the uncounted cost of the US military, the single biggest polluter on the planet. The US military is deliberately excluded from all pollution accounting globally. The film will be followed by a discussion led by US veteran and peace activist, Zue Jernstedt. This event is being hosted jointly by Cuba Support Group Ireland and the CPI with all profits going to medical aid for Cuba (via MediCuba-Europa).
Tickets: https://takeyourseats.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873686224

For more well researched information check out this link below…
https://www.people.ie/news/PN-284.pdf

Canada Welcomed at European Political Community Summit in Armenia | Dawn News English https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCJOL_Pan9g