133. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Defence to provide an update on the planned legislation to abolish the triple lock and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43465/26]

Sentiment score: 0.04

Could the Minister to provide an update on her plans to dismantle the triple lock neutrality protection?

Sentiment score: 0.00

There is no doubt that this is an erosion of our military neutrality. The triple lock is something that is deeply valued by the Irish people. Opinion poll after opinion poll has shown clearly that the Irish people want to retain this protection, yet Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael are absolutely determined to get rid of it. These plans are going to endanger our neutrality, endanger our reputation on the world stage as peace builders and expose us to the rising moves towards militarisation across the EU. If the Government is so confident in its position, why will it not put it to a referendum? The Minister said that we do not have to put it to a referendum but that is not a justification in and of itself. Let the people have their say on this issue. We know why the Government is refusing to do that. It is because it knows the answer it will get from the people on this because the Irish people cherish our military neutrality and the triple lock as a core aspect of this. Removing it without putting it to the people through a referendum is an attack on our sovereignty and democracy and I just cannot understand how the Minister can justify that. How can she justify not letting the people have their say on such an important issue and a core aspect of our military neutrality?

Sentiment score: 0.13

If the triple lock protection is removed, it will be possible to deploy Irish troops to any situation at all that the Government sees fit. That is not what the Irish people want because that gives carte blanche to any future Irish Government and indeed will expose Irish Governments to significant outside pressure as well in future situations. It is a serious diminution of our neutrality. There is no doubt about that. The Minister should be working to strengthen our neutrality, ending the US use of Shannon Airport and actively opposing increased EU militarisation. Only a few years ago, Micheál Martin said the triple lock was at the core of our neutrality. What has changed since then? It is clear that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael just want to follow the EU's drum beat for increased militarisation. That is the reason for this. That is the reason for such a drastic change on the triple lock and it is shameful. Even Government TDs are opposed to this. One of the Minister's predecessors at the Department of Defence, Deputy Willie O'Dea, in response to the Taoiseach's call for a referendum on increasing the number of Ministers, said, "How about a referendum people actually want, like on the triple lock?" Once again, the Minister is out of touch with the Irish people. She is failing to listen to people and has not been able to give any good reason this evening as to why she will not put this to the people in a referendum. That is what needs to happen in this case for such a significant decision. The Government is hiding from the people because it knows the answer it will get.

Sentiment score: 0.07