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Independent Ireland Leader Michael Collins TD has accused Taoiseach Micheál Martin of riding roughshod over both his own parliamentary party and the Irish people as the Government presses ahead with plans to dismantle the Triple Lock mechanism without a referendum.
Deputy Collins was speaking following reports that approximately 20 Fianna Fáil TDs signed a letter expressing concerns about changes to the Triple Lock and calling for its retention.
“It is an extraordinary situation when a Taoiseach is not only refusing to listen to the Irish people, but is also ignoring the clearly expressed concerns of his own backbench TDs,” said Deputy Collins.
“We now know that around 20 Fianna Fáil TDs felt strongly enough about this issue to sign a letter calling for the Triple Lock to be retained. Yet their concerns have been brushed aside. If Micheál Martin won’t listen to members of his own parliamentary party, what chance has the ordinary citizen of being heard?”
Deputy Collins said the Government’s refusal to hold a referendum demonstrates a lack of confidence in public support for its plans.
“The reality is that the Government knows the Irish people would reject any further erosion of our neutrality and sovereignty if given the opportunity to vote on it. That is why they are refusing to put the question to the people.”
“The Triple Lock has long been viewed as an important safeguard in relation to the deployment of Irish troops overseas. Whether people support reforming it or not, there is no question that such a significant change deserves public consultation and democratic consent.”
Deputy Collins said the proposed changes form part of a broader pattern of decision-making that is increasingly removing important powers and protections without meaningful public engagement.
“First we had the EU Migration Pact pushed through despite widespread public concerns. Now we have another major change touching on neutrality and sovereignty being forced through without a referendum. The pattern is becoming clear.”
“The Government talks endlessly about democratic participation, but when it comes to issues that matter, it seems determined to avoid asking the people for their opinion.”
The Independent Ireland leader warned that public trust in politics is being undermined by a growing perception that decisions are being made behind closed doors while legitimate concerns are dismissed.
“The Irish people are not children. They are perfectly capable of deciding important questions about the future direction of their country.”
“Micheál Martin is ignoring his own TDs because he knows many of them reflect the views of the people they represent. Instead of listening, he is pressing ahead regardless.”
“If the Government believes these changes are necessary, then it should have the courage to put its case to the Irish people in a referendum. Anything less will be viewed as an attempt to sidestep democracy.”
However, an Taoiseach yesterday defended reform of the Triple Lock following a meeting with the European Parliament president, Roberta Metsola, in Dublin Castle, Mr Martin.
“Going back to 2023, we’ve been advocating for reform of the Triple Lock, it’s in the party manifesto for the last general election, it’s in the Programme for Government,” he said.
“People are entitled to raise issues at the parliamentary party, no issue with that, and we’ll discuss it at length and go through it.
“But the real issue facing us is that we may not be in a position to participate in peacekeeping missions in the future if we rely on UN Security Council approval because already we’ve had to pull out of Operation IRINI in the Mediterranean, and indeed Unifil.
“We’ve been in Lebanon since the 1970s and given the tension in Lebanon at the moment, and the need for a presence in Lebanon, we’ll be pulling out at the end of the year, because of the decision of the security council to end the Unifil peace mandate.
“The European [common security and defence policy] may have a monitoring mission there, but we won’t be able to take part if there’s no reform of the Triple Lock.
“Any reform of the Triple Lock does not involve any erosion or undermining of Irish neutrality,” an Taoiseach said.
“We’re not joining any military block, we have no intention of [that]. Neither have we any interest, never have had, of participating in any wars or conflicts. We’re peacekeepers and that’s our strength,” Mr Martin said.
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