ABSTRACT
In the late 1950s a sea change began in Irish politics. One factor was the growing perception that protectionism had not succeeded. When the climate for Britain changed, so too did the climate for Ireland, and by 1969 it had had a number of years to seek to adjust to the new requirements that it would face. Labour attacked the terms, the capitalist orientation of the European Economic Community, the problems posed to traditional Irish industries, as well as disputing the benefits to agriculture. Ireland has always opposed membership in existing alliance systems, but in line with its long-standing policy it did accept that it would participate if the Community developed its own security system. The Minister of Defence in November 1991 acknowledged that Europe must have its own common defence system which would not be subservient to the USA and that Ireland would need to play a role in determining that system.
