Pringle: We must retain the triple lock to protect Irish neutrality
- Updated: 5th September 2024
Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, said Ireland must retain the triple lock for determining Ireland’s deployment of Defence Forces overseas in order to protect and preserve Ireland’s neutrality.
Deputy Pringle said: “The Tánaiste, Micheál Martin, has said he is going to bring forward legislation to do away with the triple lock, by removing the need for UN approval for these decisions, and requiring only Government and Dáil approval.
“The Government is saying our neutrality will not be affected because the Dáil will have a say. However, the Dáil is largely controlled by the government, and as we’ve seen, this government has no backbone. This move would turn over this decision to government, to do whatever they want.
“We must be vigilant against attempts by Government to erode our neutrality. If not, eventually we will wake up one day and find ourselves involved in a war and wonder, how did we get here?
“Poll after poll after poll has shown very strong public support for our policy of neutrality. Even last year’s Consultative Forum on International Security Policy, which I have been very critical of, found no consensus for removing the triple lock. And this government’s Programme for Government told us that overseas operations will be ‘subject to a triple lock of UN, Government and Dáil Éireann approval’.
“Still, our neutrality continues to be under threat and undermined by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party.
“When does the public have its say before the triple lock is undone? There must be a public debate on the issue.
“We need a referendum to enshrine neutrality in our Constitution.
“Ireland has shown time and again that our military neutrality does not mean political neutrality. We always have been and always will be outspoken on international matters.
“Our strengths have always been in peacekeeping and speaking out against injustice, and our neutrality gives Ireland a respected and trusted voice on the international stage. That is where our greatest contributions are and where our focus should be,” Deputy Pringle said.
