Protesters slammed the Fine Gael-Fianna Fail-Greens government for the decision to provide weapons training to Ukrainian army recruits and called for maintaining the traditional Irish policy of neutrality in international conflicts

Socialist and anti-war groups in Ireland are apprehensive of the nation’s engagement with the EU’s Permanent Structured Cooperation and other bids to weaken neutrality

The US military was allowed to use the Shannon airport after 2001 attacks on the World Trade Centre . Activists have accused the government of weakening the traditional policy of Irish neutrality by catering to US imperialist ambitions.