A Government TD has rejected claims that the Coalition tried to hide the fact that Irish troops will provide weapons training to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Around 30 Defence Forces personnel are to provide training as part of a larger European force of trainers under an EU Common Security and Defence Policy mission.
Originally, this was to have entailed "landmine clearance, combat medicine and other non-lethal supports."
But the Department of Defence has now confirmed that troops will also be involved in weapons training.
Fine Gael TD Colm Brophy told RTÉ's This Week that Ireland is providing "very basic military training to transfer soldiers from a civilian life to a life in the Ukrainian Army".
He insisted that this is being done "in the confines of recognising our military neutrality and recognising our political support for Ukraine."
However, People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Paul Murphy has accused the Government of very consciously choosing "not to tell the public the exact nature of the training".
He claimed that "a significant line has been crossed by giving weapons training to an army in a war."
Earlier this year, the Government gave the Defence Forces the green light to participate in the EU Military Assistance Mission (EUMAM) which is providing support to Ukraine.
But now the Government has revealed that: "Additional training courses approved by Government in July 2023 focus on basic areas of military training which the UAF (Ukrainian Armed Forces) have identified, as well as training on specific de-mining equipment donated by Ireland".
The areas of training are to include basic military leadership, and drill instructor training.
In a statement the Government specifies that, in accordance with the Programme for Government, it is not supplying the UAF with any weapons.
"Ireland's policy of military neutrality is characterised by our non-participation in military alliances or common or mutual defence arrangements," the statement adds.
"Providing soldiers with basic military training including leadership and drilling instruction does not impact this policy of military neutrality" it claims.
Expression of solidarity
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Deputy Brophy said that the provision of the training is important and is an expression of solidarity.
"I think when you have a Ukrainian army, which is comprised of an awful lot of people who were living regular lives just like we were a year ago, and have now had to take up arms to defend their country against this appalling aggression, I think that type of help and assistance which we can provide in training it is important," he said.
While Ireland is not politically neutral it will support Ukraine in any way possible, Deputy Brophy said, but stressed that the country is still militarily neutral and insisted that the Government is "not changing that in any way".
Deputy Murphy said that the war in Ukraine should not be used by the Irish Government to further undermine the nation's neutrality.
"We should absolutely be supporting the people of Ukraine in ways that do not breach our military neutrality", he said.
This must be done "in ways that do not add to this conflict which exists between the global powers Russia on the one side, but NATO, its allies and so on, on the other side. So we should be arguing for peace. We should be giving humanitarian aid."
Paul Murphy noted that the Government had offered explicit assurances that the training offered by Irish soldiers to Ukrainian troops would be in "non-lethal areas".
"What does that possibly mean other than we are not going to be training people how to use weapons to kill other people?" he asked.
"It is very clear if you're giving military training to one side in a conflict, you are no longer acting in a militarily neutral way," Deputy Murphy added.
Mr Brophy insisted that the Government is not in breach of its neutrality. He said that because of Russia’s present actions, there was no opening for peace.
"There is no option that any reasonable person can see towards a quick end to this war. So, we have to continue to stand with Ukraine", the Fine Gael TD said.
