Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 May 2024
15. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence his plans for a public consultation on his proposal to dismantle the triple lock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22040/24]
View answer20. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the analysis, including any reports or supporting documentation, carried out by his Department leading to the decision to legislate for the dismantling of the triple lock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22004/24]
View answer30. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence if, in the interest of transparency, he will refer any desired or proposed changes to the triple lock to the people in a referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22149/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 20 and 30 together.
As I have stated earlier; the Government has now agreed on the necessity to amend the legislation governing our overseas deployments, including with regard to the Triple Lock. The changes proposed will give us the ability to dispatch members of our Defence Forces overseas to respond to situations where UN Security Council members are preventing agreement on a vital peacekeeping operation, or to support the deployment of Defence Forces’ personnel overseas in the evacuation of Irish citizens and will allow us to respond to crisis situations with more agility.
In terms of public consultations, last year’s Consultative Forum on International Security Policy organised by both the Department of Defence and Department of Foreign Affairs, was held across three locations in the country, in Cork, Galway and in Dublin. This Forum featured numerous wide-ranging and well-informed discussion from across the spectrum, including from members of the public, from national and international academics, and with policymakers on the issue of UN peacekeeping and the Triple Lock. In excess of 800 submissions were received from members of the public and these along with the Forum discussions were reflected in the publicly available Chair’s report. That report was presented to Government on 17 October , and the Dáil debated the outcomes of the Report on 22 November last.
While the modalities of the Triple Lock are set out in defence legislation, it is not set out nor referenced in our Constitution. There is no requirement for a referendum. I can assure the House however that the legislative process will be entirely transparent, and I am happy to again set out the detail concerning the proposed timeframe for this process.
• On 30th April last, Government approved the proposal to draft the General Scheme of a Bill to govern overseas deployments into the future. Work on drafting those proposals is underway.
• This will involve, where required, further consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and other Government Departments and key stakeholders.
• It is proposed to revert to Government in June 2024 with the General Scheme of the Bill seeking approval to publish the Scheme.
• This Scheme will also be brought for pre-legislative scrutiny consideration by the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence to determine if pre-legislative scrutiny is required.
• Finally, any proposals agreed by Government will then have to be presented to, debated and approved by the Dáil and Seanad, thus providing the Oireachtas with ample opportunity to scrutinise any such proposals.
Let there be no doubt that the proposed amendments will remain fully consistent with the principles of the UN Charter and international law, and will in no way affect Ireland’s policy of military neutrality. The proposed changes are not about Ireland turning its back on UN Peacekeeping. Ireland is, and will remain, fully committed to the UN. The purpose of these legislative changes is to reinforce Ireland’s ability to pursue an independent foreign policy by removing the power of UN Security Council permanent members to veto our national sovereign decisions.
Any modification to the Triple Lock will continue to require Government and Dáil approval for the dispatch of Defence Forces’ personnel to take part in peacekeeping and similar missions and will do nothing to change Ireland’s traditional position of military neutrality, which is characterised by Ireland's non-participation in any military alliance.
