Government Plans Triple Lock Removal
The Coalition hopes to enact legislation to facilitate the removal of the triple lock by the end of the year, sparking a sharp political clash over military neutrality, according to rte.ie.
The triple lock currently requires approval from the Government, the Dáil, and the United Nations before more than 12 members of the Defence Forces can deploy overseas. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald told the Dáil that dropping this requirement flies in the face of commitments made during the 2002 and 2009 EU treaty referendums, rte.ie reported.
“Explicit guarantees had to be secured that EU defence cooperation would not compromise Ireland's military neutrality, and the triple lock is at the very heart of that guarantee, so you cannot now dismiss it as a technicality,” Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said.
Dáil Debates and Neutrality Clashes
Sinn Féin TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire argued outside Government Buildings that the proposed change is reckless and undermines international reputation. Meanwhile, Minister for Defence Helen McEntee stated that Sinn Féin is spreading falsehoods about the impact on neutrality, according to rte.ie.
Bypassing Committee Stage
Government and defence sources confirmed to The Journal that officials are considering avoiding the committee stage to bring the Defence (Amendment) Bill directly to the floor of the Dáil. In October, the Dáil voted 79 to 71 to approve the second reading of the bill, The Journal reported.
Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh said any attempt to bypass the committee stage would show absolute contempt for democratic structures and the Irish public. Minister McEntee countered that the opposition is merely trying to frustrate and delay the legislative process, according to The Journal.
Failed Referendum Gambits
Opponents of the legislative change initially hoped to use Article 27 of the Constitution to trigger a referendum via a petition to the President, The Irish Times reported. However, the procedure did not apply because the upper house has not yet rejected or amended the Bill, according to The Irish Times.
Colonel Dorcha Lee noted that the first two locks involving government decisions and Dáil approval were never problematic, but the third lock empowering external nations seriously undermines national sovereignty.
Questions About Defence Spending
“Without the reform we are proposing, Ireland will no longer have the capacity, in many instances, to participate in peacekeeping around the world,” Deputy Chambers said.
Common Questions on the Triple Lock
What does the triple lock actually require?
The mechanism mandates approval from the Government, the Dáil, and the United Nations before deploying more than 12 members of the Defence Forces overseas, according to rte.ie.
How many troops can deploy under the new proposal?
The new proposal removes the requirement for a UN resolution, requiring instead an agreement by the cabinet and a vote in the Dáil for deploying 50 military personnel abroad, The Journal reported.
When did the Dáil vote on the current Bill?
The Dáil voted 79 to 71 in October to approve the second reading of the Defence (Amendment) Bill, according to The Journal.
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