There have been calls for the Government to hold a referendum on the triple lock on military neutrality, as one Independent TD last night called for the State to let the people decide.
A number of politicians are wary of the Government’s attempt to remove the UN Security Council requirement from the Triple Lock governing overseas deployments of the Irish Defence Forces.
The Triple Lock only permits the deployment of more than 12 members of the Defence Forces overseas when it has been agreed by the Government, the Dáil and the UN.
While it has its roots in 1960, the debate over the triple lock became a major political issue at the start of the 2000s, when it was used by the Government to reassure voters that integration with Europe would not compromise Irish military neutrality.
Last night, legislation to scrap the Triple Lock narrowly passed its first vote in the Dáil after 79 TDs supported the change and 71 opposed it.
The Bill would end the requirement for EU approval. It is to return to Committee Stage in November, while it is generally expected that the legislation could be in force by the end of the year.
Independent TD Mattie McGrath has said that any fundamental change to Irish military neutrality should be put to a public referendum.
Deputy McGrath said that the Irish people, not the politicians in Leinster House, should decide whether the country’s approach to neutrality changes.
“The people of Ireland … should have the final say,” he said. “If the Government believes that the Irish people want a different approach to neutrality, then it should have the courage to say that and put the question directly to daoine na hEireann, the Irish people.”
‘IT IS AFRAID OF ITS LIFE OF THE PEOPLE’
The Tipperary TD was also critical of an increase from 12 to 15 trips, arguing that raising the threshold for Parliamentary approval would reduce democratic oversight.
“How could it be an administrative change to go from 12 to 50?” he asked.
“Neutrality has been a central pillar of the State since its foundation. It’s part of who we are as people,” said McGrath.
“If there is to be any fundamental change to the triplelock or Ireland’s long-standing policy of military neutrality, the matter should be put before the people of Ireland. Anything less would be a travesty. The Government will not put it to the people. Cén fáth? Because it is afraid of its life of the people.
‘TO HELL WITH THE PEOPLE OF IRELAND’
“Fianna Fáil has abandoned the principles of Seán Lemass, Eamon de Valera and all our forefathers, including Bertie Ahern and Brian Cowen. Fianna Fáil Deputies would sell their soul now for sixpence at the corner of a street.
“The Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, wants to bring people with him on his journey that he started a few years ago. He held his workshops all over the country, kind of roadshows – you would think it was a circus coming to town. It was a circus.
“He was told but he did not listen. Bhí a chluasa dúnta aige (He had his hears closed). He should have listened to the people. The Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, and I have debated this many times.”
McGrath claimed that Ministers were more interested in getting “big jobs in Europe and further away, under the World Economic Forum or wherever else [he] can, and to hell with the people of Ireland.”
“Bí ag éisteacht le daoine na hÉireann. They are the people who put you in here. They pay your wages. Respect them.”
The Opposition last night united in objections to the Bill saying it would erode Irish military neutrality.
Meanwhile, the Government insisted the change was necessary in order to allow Ireland to continue sending peacekeepers overseas.
There was criticism after Fianna Fáil TDs John McGuinness and Willie O’Dea did not vote on the legislation.
“Our reform of the triple lock is fundamentally about keeping alive the Irish tradition of peacekeeping,” claimed the Taoiseach, who argued that the existing system gives Russia, China and the US the ability to block Irish participation in future mission through their Security Council vetoes.
Defence Minister Helen McEntee accused the opposition of “talking out of both sides of their mouths.”
“Frankly, I am quite confused sitting here listening to the contributions,” said Ms McEntee.
“[…] They are talking out of both sides of their mouths because while they want us to have an independent foreign policy whereby we make our own decisions, members of Sinn Féin, the Labour Party, the Social Democrats, the Green Party, the Independent groupings and the technical groupings are all sitting here this evening and basically saying that China, the UK, France, the US and Russia – a country that is murdering citizens every single day in Ukraine and attacking members of the EU – should have a say in where we send our peacekeeping troops.
“That is what the Opposition parties are saying. They are saying that on one hand we should make our decisions and yet they are saying here this evening that they want those five permanent members of the UN Security Council to continue to have a say in where we send our troops.”