Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 February 2025
173. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the status of proposals outlined in the Programme for Government to remove the triple lock protection; when he plans to bring these proposals before the Houses of the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6401/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs set out in the Programme for Government, this Government intends to reform the Triple Lock legislation whilst also ensuring that amendments to the legislation are in keeping with our values and policy of military neutrality.
To be clear firstly on what the 'triple lock' means; the 'triple lock' is a mechanism that sets out the conditions under which Irish troops may participate in overseas peace support operations. For troops to take part, the operation must be mandated by the United Nations; it must be approved by the Government; and it must be approved by Dáil Éireann by means of a resolution.
A new process is clearly needed to replace the current system underpinning the deployment of Irish troops abroad, which effectively allows UN Security Council members to bind Ireland’s hands in its international engagement by a veto or threat of the use of a veto.
The previous Government had approved the drafting of a General Scheme of a Bill to amend the legislation on how Ireland deploys its troops overseas, both in terms of overseas peacekeeping, but also in terms of deployment of Defence Force personnel overseas for purposes other than peacekeeping, such as for evacuation operations of Irish citizens abroad, something which has become sadly more frequent due to the uncertain geopolitical situation globally. Draft heads of legislation have been prepared with a view to proposals being brought to this Government in due course.
The Government has been very clear that it has no desire to alter Ireland’s policy of military neutrality. In effect, the proposed changes to the Triple Lock 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. I can reassure the Deputy that any modification to the Triple Lock will continue to require Government and Dáil approval for the deployment of Defence Forces’ personnel overseas to take part in peacekeeping and similar missions and will do nothing to change Ireland’s traditional position of military neutrality.
I also wish to reaffirm to this House that once the General Scheme of the Bill is presented to Government there will be ample time to debate the draft legislation in the Dáil & Seanad, thus providing the Oireachtas with ample opportunity to scrutinise any such proposals.
