44. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the status of the proposed changes to the triple lock; if it is intended to remove the neutrality protection of the triple lock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6076/25]
Sentiment score: 0.04
The Tánaiste talks about respect and trust. That is exactly what the people of Ireland do not have for on in him. There has been a carefully choreographed campaign to get rid of our neutrality. The current Taoiseach, back in 2013, clearly spelled out what Fine Gael was up to. At that point, we were told the triple lock was an integral part of our neutrality and so on. You have turned language on its head. If you want respect and trust, then you should have done what you promised in respect of neutrality and let it go to a citizens' assembly. That did not happen. What we got was Dame Richardson in charge of a carefully choreographed, so-called consultative forum, and even then the people of Ireland made their views known and the vast majority said we hold neutrality dear. Now you have come back with this. It is one of the clearest objectives in the programme for Government. As opposed to the other wishy-washy language, you will change the triple lock and you are changing the triple lock against the wishes of the people of Ireland.
Sentiment score: 0.25
Micheál Martin, the current Taoiseach has repeatedly said that the triple lock is at the core of our neutrality. As a neutral independent sovereign State, we should use our voice to champion the UN structures, to reform the UN structures and to get away from the language of rule-based order and talk about international law which has been hard won following two world wars. Then we come to Putin. On this side of the House, we are all on record as condemning the illegal invasion. I do not hear the condemning of America for its encroachment - to put it mildly - it is taking over and destabilising of a number of countries in South America. I do not hear the Government condemn the new US President at the moment because it suits its purposes. Our credibility is at stake in relation to being neutral. We need our credibility. We need people to be able to trust us so that we speak truth to power regardless of whether it is in America or in-----
Sentiment score: 0.04
I will pick up on that point on trust. Trust is at an all-time low in this Government in relation to neutrality.
Sentiment score: 0.40
In the context of troops going through Shannon Airport, the Tánaiste has never once inspected those troops. Repeatedly, he has got information about arms and soldiers carrying arms. Never once did he engage in an inspection. He reassured us. I am never reassured by institutions nor Governments. I like to see evidence. There is no progress on the occupied territories Bill, which goes to the core of our credibility in relation to how we deal with different aggressors, be it Russia, the US or Israel. The Government is bowing to American interests. There are any number of examples, including the Lisbon treaty and the Nice treaty. We were forced to vote twice. We got reassurances and we got civil declarations and guarantees that we were not going in the direction of a military-industrial complex and a European army.
Sentiment score: 0.12
We were told that over and over. When I talk to people on the ground in Fianna Fáil, they tell me that neutrality is absolutely at the core of what we stand for.
Sentiment score: 0.00
Tá cúpla soicind fágtha ach ní fiú dul ar aghaidh le haon cheist eile, faraor. Is é sin deireadh le ceisteanna chun an Tánaiste agus an Aire Cosanta.
Sentiment score: -0.28