Micheál Martin in the White House with Donald Trump: US politicians are putting Ireland under pressure in relation to the Occupied Territories Bill and freedom of speech for American companies. Photograph: Doug Mills/The New York Times
We have to wise up to the drift of events across the European Continent. There are many in our establishment who make the argument that Ireland needs to be at the centre of EU affairs where we can aspire to “punch above our weight”. They argue that unless we are at that centre we will become marginalised in diplomatic terms.
That argument may have some force. But it may also be code for playing the diplomatic game and keeping ourselves quietly in the slipstream of more powerful players rather than putting our heads above the parapet on any issue where our view might be a minority one.
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