120. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Defence if she will withdraw legislation to abolish the triple lock pending a referendum to let the people decide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44192/26]
Sentiment score: 0.04
The Minister wants to scrap the triple lock. She wants to be able to send Irish troops abroad on international missions outside of the framework of international law. She wants to be able to send Irish troops on NATO-led or US-led missions. That is her political position. I believe that equates to getting rid of neutrality but that is a question for the Minister. My question is whether she will allow the people to decide. Opinion poll after opinion poll has shown public support for neutrality and the triple lock. Will the Minister allow the people to decide on this question rather than making the decision herself?
Sentiment score: 0.11
It is not continuing under UN law. That is the whole point.
Sentiment score: 0.00
It is not continuing under UN or international law. It is outside the framework of international law.
Sentiment score: 0.00
Most of the members states were involved in the invasion of Iraq.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I do not think so.
Sentiment score: 0.00
The idea that there has been any real public consultation here is a joke. Micheál Martin said we were going to have a citizens' assembly on neutrality. That was scrapped and replaced with a consultative forum packed with warmongers, NATO heads and academics with links to the military industrial complex. That was the Government's public consultation. What a joke. Allow the people to decide. Give the people a referendum. If the Government is so confident in its arguments, let us have it out and allow the people to decide. I will quote the Minister of State, Deputy Robert Troy. He said: Ireland's position on the use of force where there is no UN mandate or authorisation is well established and known. For fear that anyone is in any doubt, let me be clear: it is wrong and it is illegal. Does the Minister of State agree with Deputy Troy or does he not? All the triple lock does is ensure that any mission we go on has a UN mandate or authorisation. That is the whole point of it. Why did Operation Irini not get extended by the UN? It is because it is no longer just about Libya. Let us be honest; it is about Russia. It is about chasing the Russian shadow fleet. Why on earth should Irish troops be chasing the Russian shadow fleet in the Mediterranean? That would be a breach of neutrality. It is perfectly correct that we are not going to be participating in that.
Sentiment score: 0.07
I mentioned Russia.
Sentiment score: 0.00
The Minister of State claims he has a mandate. What does the Fianna Fáil manifesto say? It says it will continue to protect and promote Ireland's military neutrality, including sensible reform of the triple lock legislation. That is not what it is doing, is it? The triple lock is gone entirely. We look at the heads of Bill, which make it clear. The heads of Bill state that the Bill will provide for the removal of the triple lock. It is gone. Fianna Fáil does not have a mandate for this. We look at the presidential election, and we look at opinion poll after opinion poll. People are attached to neutrality, and they are not stupid. They know, just as Deputy Micheál Martin said, that the triple lock is at the core of our neutrality. Why? It is because it is the only thing that stops this Government or any future Government from sending Irish troops to participate in any sort of imperialist intervention anywhere in the world. It is the only legal thing that stops them. At the committee, it was said that without the triple lock, Irish troops could have been sent to participate in the invasion of Iraq. That was said at the committee by the top civil servant. The Government allowed them to use Shannon Airport. If it were not for the triple lock, the Government could have sent Irish troops abroad. That is what the triple lock is about. I ask again whether the Minister of State agrees with what the Minister of State, Deputy Robert Troy, said.
Sentiment score: 0.08
That is your mandate.
Sentiment score: 0.00
It is called international law.
Sentiment score: 0.00