Peace and Neutrality Alliance - PANA

20/10/2026

‘Ireland is preparing to go to war and we can’t stop it’ reported Patrick Murphy in the Belfast based Irish News, suggesting that those National Declarations, or solemn pledges that were given by Fianna Fail governments in order to persuade the Irish people to support EU referendums, may now be broken/destroyed/betrayed by yet another Fianna Fail leader.
Dail Eireann has been allowed a rushed debate on the Triple Lock mechanism this Wednesday 21st October. Yes, Taoiseach Micheal Martin is planning to end his pledge to have United Nations approval to fight abroad, instead we will now rely on those famous EU/NATO values, those same values that support the ongoing slaughter in Ukraine, the ongoing genocide against Palestinians, and the ongoing exploitation of the Global South.
So, what has changed?
The fundamental principles that guided Fianna Fáil under its founder, Éamon de Valera, represented a distinct vision of Irish sovereignty, neutrality, and popular democracy. Today, that vision lies in ruins, betrayed by a party leadership that has capitulated to European integration. The evolution of Fianna Fáil is not a story of pragmatic adaptation to changing global circumstances; it is a story of ideological surrender. At every critical juncture where the Irish state faced new global realities, the party leadership made no serious effort to apply de Valera’s anti-imperialist and democratic principles to the modern world. Instead, they used "changed circumstances" as a convenient smokescreen to abandon the Republic, subjugating Irish sovereignty to supranational elites and military blocs. More analysis on this link …
https://www.facebook.com/peoplesmovementireland/

Dublin 3 for Neutrality
https://www.facebook.com/p/Dublin-3-for-Neutrality-61587561224295/

17/10/2026

Remembering Denis Halliday

Joe Murray, former Afri Coordinator writes:

"We in Afri are deeply saddened by the death of the distinguished statesman and Afri patron, Denis Halliday. Denis was a man of great integrity, courage and principle. He was a true friend and great supporter of Afri’s work and participated in many of our events over the years, including Féile Bríde, the Famine Walk and the Hedge School. Among many other things, he was part of a delegation that met with Irish Aid when our funding was cut due to our support for the community in Rossport who were heroically resisting Shell’s destruction of their community. Denis also stood side by side with the community throughout their struggle, speaking at a number of Afri events there. We recall a humorous moment in Rossport in October when the Afri team, including Denis, got up at the crack of dawn - the clocks were changing, and we figured the clocks went forward rather than back (Fall forward and Spring back!!) - resulting in all of us having an unexpected early breakfast!

He made a key intervention in the first Nice Treaty when he spoke at an Afri Press Conference and said that the EU Rapid Reaction Force, provided for in the Nice Treaty, would be hugely damaging to Irish Neutrality. The headline in the next day’s Irish Times, quoting Denis, said: ‘EU Force would be horrifying for Irish Neutrality’, which was repeated in ‘What it Says in the papers’ on RTE’s flagship Morning Ireland programme. This was the day before the referendum took place and undoubtedly contributed in no small measure to the rejection of the Treaty by the Irish electorate. Needless to say, when the Government didn’t like the result, they got us to vote again until they got the outcome that they wanted!

Denis became an internationally recognised human rights defender when he resigned from his post as UN humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq in 1998. He resigned in protest against the sanctions on Iraq, describing them as ‘genocide’.

He explained in an interview: ‘I was driven to resign because I refused to continue to take Security Council orders, the same Security Council that had imposed and sustained genocidal sanctions on the innocent people of Iraq. I did not want to be complicit. I wanted to be free to speak out publicly about this crime’.

In 2003, he received the Gandhi International Peace Award for his continued work for peace, justice, and respect for human rights. He was one of the key witnesses in the trial of the Pitstop Ploughshares who damaged a warplane at Shannon Airport. Following a protracted trial over three years, all members were acquitted – due in no small way to Denis’ testimony. He was also a key witness at the trials of Clare Daly, Mick Wallace and Margaretta D’Arcy, who were charged with similar offences.

Denis also joined a peace flotilla that attempted to deliver aid to Gaza aboard the Rachel Corrie. During this voyage he said: ‘we emphasise that our aim is not provocative but about getting our aid cargo into Gaza’.

He also chaired three People’s Tribunals on Sri Lanka delivering judgement on the Government of Sri Lanka as ‘guilty of the crime of genocide against the Eelem Tamil people’.

Denis was a courageous, dedicated and conscientious human being who devoted his life to the cause of justice, peace and human rights. Afri is proud to have had him as a friend and patron, and at a time of cynical, war-supporting politics in our country, Ireland should be inspired by his example and proud of him, too!"

For further details, service arrangements, or to leave a message of condolence, please visit RIP.ie

16/10/2026

We must protect Irish Neutrality and

14/10/2026

Here is the link to Peoples News No 290.

https://www.people.ie/news/PN-290.pdf

14/10/2026

07/10/2026

More than 160 great civil society organisations and groups, including PANA, have endorsed the National March for Palestine organised by the IPSC, this Saturday 10th October. Join us, 1pm, at the Garden of Remembrance
https://www.facebook.com/IrelandPSC

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reveals global military expenditure reached an unprecedented $2887 billion in 2025 — the eleventh consecutive year of growth.
Whilst PANA highlights our concerns regarding the massive increase in EU military research and defence spending, under pressure from the US/NATO military alliance, and their use of war propaganda including the Russian threat. A similar strategy has been highlighted by another peace group the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) who highlighted that their particular concern is SIPRI’s direct identification of Australia as a country increasing its military spending under US pressure.
SIPRI Senior Researcher Diego Lopes da Silva stated:
‘US allies in Asia and Oceania such as Australia, Japan and the Philippines are spending more on their militaries, not only due to long-standing regional tensions but also due to growing uncertainty over US support. As in Europe, US allies in Asia and Oceania are also under pressure from the Trump administration to spend more on their militaries.’
IPAN is deeply concerned that Australia’s increasing military expenditure is being driven by US pressure rather than by Australia’s own independent assessment of its security needs,’ said Mr Bevan Ramsden, spokesperson for IPAN.
This is particularly demonstrated by Australia signing into the AUKUS Security Pact with the US and UK to contain and confront China and preparing to spend $375 billion, most probably more, on acquisition of nuclear hunter-killer submarines for this purpose.
https://ipan.org.au/peace-group-warns-australia-must-develop-its-own-independent-defence-strategy-media-release-28-april-2026/

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) Fact Sheet, April 2026, TRENDS IN WORLD MILITARY EXPENDITURE, 2025
https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/2026-04/2604_milex_2025.pdf

More than 1200 people marched through Boorloo/Perth yesterday as the Land Forces weapons expo opened its doors. It's Australia's biggest land weapons expo: almost 1,000 exhibitors and delegates from 60 countries, gathered to buy and sell the tools of war. It was moved to Perth after mass protests in Melbourne in 2024.
The government has committed up to $375 billion to AUKUS submarines. In a cost-of-living crisis, this is what our governments choose to fund.
https://www.facebook.com/IndependentAndPeacefulAustraliaNetwork

Please go to PANA Website to find a great collection of ‘Letters from Peace Activists’, including those from Edward Horgan of Shannonwatch/PANA
https://pana.ie/

27/09/2026

Majority of Irish people support Irish neutrality, keeping the Triple Lock, and that the government should publicly criticise the Trump Administration.
According to an Irish Times-Ipsos B&A poll published this weekend in the Irish Times, seeking opinions on foreign policy issues, a majority of the public at 44% want the Irish government to retain the Triple Lock, and a majority of the public at 64% support Ireland’s current model of neutrality (an increase of 5% since this question was asked last year).
On the question of our relationship to the United States, a slight majority at 46% believe the Irish government should criticise the Trump administration, when necessary, even if this risks damaging this relationship. Whilst the public as Pat Leahy (Political Editor) reports are indeed divided on our relationship to the US, we never get an analysis on this relationship. Irish people believe we should maintain an independent neutral position in spite of the constant narrative that we are economically dependent on US corporations, and that statement on this relationship "straight out of Walt Disney Studios" now on the government’s official website… ‘Irish and American values are most vividly expressed in our shared commitment to multilateralism, deriving from a deep belief in the shared humanity of people everywhere, and the interdependence of all nations for security and human progress.’
So, when will the government criticise the US, their many war crimes and their rejection of international law including support for the ongoing Israeli genocide of Palestinians.

Last week Taoiseach Micheál Martin in his address to the UNGA spoke of human rights, he condemned Afghanistan, Russia, Iran, those outside actors propagating violence in Sudan, and he spoke with great passion in support of Palestine. But he avoided the elephant in the room, the role of the US/NATO military alliance in these same conflicts, and our shameful complicity. History will record Micheál Martin address to the UN as a failure to turn passionate words, and calls for peace into action…
Another interesting poll result, the majority of the public 61% want the building of data centres halted, perhaps for environmental or high electricity consumption reasons, or perhaps highlighting a need for economic diversity, making us less dependent on US corporations.

Micheál Martin, Taoiseach of Ireland, addresses the General Debate of the 81st Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations (New York, 22 - 26 and 28 September 2026).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GzI0WnMPWA

An official website of the Government of Ireland on Ireland's relationship with the USA
https://www.ireland.ie/en/usa/irelands-relationship-usa/

Dublin 3 for Neutrality is a campaigning community group, highlighting ‘STAND UP FOR IRISH NEUTRALITY’ and ‘HANDS OFF THE TRIPLE LOCK’, with regular music sessions ‘peace/hate war’ in Annesley House, North Strand…see their website link
https://www.facebook.com/p/Dublin-3-for-Neutrality-61587561224295/

25/09/2026

A great crowd had gathered this evening in Liberty Hall, Dublin for a Stop the Games event, with music, song, poetry and debate, organised by the Irish trade union SIPTU. This event was supported by other trade unions, IPSC supporters and peace activists...and the campaign goes on.

23/09/2026

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23/09/2026

Near 200 national representatives/leaders, including Taoiseach Micheal Martin, will attend the UN General Assembly this week in New York to debate a wide range of issues, attend meetings and hold bilateral talks. Critics suggest it is just a talking shop dominated by western powers, where the host nation and their present warmongering leader President Donal Trump can welcome another war criminal Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, then threaten global leaders and organisations using that old imperial strategy of divide and rule. Yes, the UN needs major reform, not just the veto power of those five permanent members, perhaps the need to relocate independent structures like the UN and the ICC to a more neutral venue in the Global South, but PANA believes we need to make this structure work and to make it more representative…like that moment we watched delegates in the hall walk out as Benjamin Netanyahu began his speech. https://www.facebook.com/reel/1438394903909726

Irish President Catherine Connolly said war and genocide are being normalized around the world by global powers driven by greed and the pursuit of power, warning against the disregard of the principles on which the United Nations was founded. She made these remarks during a recent lecture delivered in Irish at Sabhal Mór Ostaig college on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. Connolly criticized the repeated threats issued by global powers, saying such language has led to destruction, injuries and fear around the world. She also warned against the use of language to manipulate people by those in positions of power.
https://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/ceann-suidhe-na-h-eireann-a-toirt-oraid-sabhal-mor-ostaig-seachad/?lang=en

President Trump’s African strategy is now forcing the nations of Africa to develop new economic partnerships that will benefit Africa without strings attached.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1412926154134603

In 2011 a NATO led coalition, that included the UK, France, Italy, the US and Canada, under the guise of yet another humanitarian intervention, bombarded and destroyed Libya, including civil and social society here. Following the killing of yet another African leader Muammar Gaddafi, Libya entered a prolonged period of instability, fractional warfare, that allowed various armed factions, including hardline Islamist and jihadist militant groups, to seize weapons and military equipment and to spread terror and chaos across Africa. According to UN officials, arms from Libyan stockpiles spread into countries including Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, with some later ending up in the hands of extremist groups.

How NATO’s Libya War Helped Spread Gaddafi’s Weapons Across Sahel | Firstpost Africa | N18G https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIjVljhtn0s

Libya’s Political Crisis: A Legacy of Failed Interventionism
https://prismeinitiative.org/publications/libyas-political-crisis-dina-mansour-ille/

What if Africa’s wars are not failures, but someone else’s business plan? Moussa Ibrahim
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1938593163496885

International Day of Peace finds an Africa gripped by conflict Millions across Africa continue to face conflict, displacement and humanitarian crises in Sudan, the DRC
https://www.facebook.com/cgtnafrica/videos/international-day-of-peace-finds-an-africa-gripped-by-conflictmillions-across-af/936541296193681/

Africa Aware … Pictures
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579507868065