Clearly, we are living through a dangerous moment in Irish politics. Piece by piece, step by step, there is a growing effort by the Government parties to weaken Irish neutrality and dismantle the triple lock. Neutrality is not weakness; it is a positive expression of Irish independence. It is the belief that Ireland should decide its own path in the world, free from the influence of military blocs, imperial powers or the interests of bigger states. For decades, neutrality has allowed Ireland to speak with some moral authority on the world stage. It has allowed Irish peacekeepers to serve with pride in UN missions. It has allowed us to support diplomacy over war, and peace over profit. That tradition is needed now more than ever. It reflects the lived experience of past generations of Irish people who experienced colonisation, occupation and conflict. That is why the triple lock matters so much. It ensures that Irish soldiers are sent abroad only for peacekeeping and humanitarian purposes, not dragged into foreign wars because of pressure from NATO, the EU military agenda or powerful allies. Yet, what we are hearing now from Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil is that the triple lock is somehow outdated. We are hearing that it limits Ireland's flexibility and we are hearing calls to remove UN approval altogether. The agenda of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael is blatantly obvious. They want the power, as parties in a Government with a Dáil majority, to deploy Irish troops abroad with far fewer restrictions. That would represent a fundamental change in Irish foreign policy, and the Irish people have not consented to it. Let us be clear that advocating for neutrality does not mean neglecting defence. Ireland absolutely needs properly funded defence forces. Our Naval Service, Air Corps and Army have been neglected for years. Recruitment and retention crises have been ignored. Investment is needed to protect Irish waters, ensure cybersecurity and retain emergency response capacity. However, strengthening defence is not the same as abandoning neutrality. A genuinely independent Ireland should be strong on both neutrality and defence. We can defend our people and sovereignty without becoming part of military alliances or surrendering democratic safeguards like the triple lock. At its core, this debate is about what kind of Ireland we want to have. Do we want an Ireland that follows larger powers into military conflicts or an Ireland that stands for diplomacy, peacekeeping, humanitarianism and international law? Do we want decisions about war and peace made by political elites?

Sentiment score: 0.22