I welcome and support this motion and thank Deputy Stanley for bringing it forward. I want to address some remarks to Fianna Fáil TDs, Fianna Fáil Senators and the wider Fianna Fáil membership. Is Fianna Fáil going to abandon its history? Is Fianna Fáil going to abandon Bunreacht na hÉireann, Éamon de Valera's Constitution? Is Fianna Fáil going to abandon Éamon de Valera's declaration of neutrality? Is Fianna Fáil going to abandon the solemn national declaration given by a Taoiseach from that party, Bertie Ahern, during the second referendum on the Nice treaty? Is it going to abandon the solemn national declaration given by another Fianna Fáil Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, during the second referendum on the Lisbon treaty?

Sentiment score: -0.09

Is it going to abandon people like Éamon Ó Cuív and Willie O'Dea who are on record as opposing the abolition of the triple lock? The Minister has said that there is no connection between the triple lock and Irish neutrality but as we very well know, the current Taoiseach told us previously that the triple lock is the core of Irish neutrality. These are huge questions for Fianna Fáil, and for its future. Will they abandon their history? Irish neutrality goes back hundreds of years. It is part of what we are as a nation and as a people. It goes back to Wolfe Tone. It goes back to James Connolly when he erected the banner on Liberty Hall which said "We serve neither king nor kaiser, but Ireland!". It goes back to huge protests against conscription during the First World War. It goes back to Article 29.2 of Bunreacht na hÉireann - Éamon de Valera's Constitution - in which "Ireland affirms its adherence to the principle of the pacific settlement of international disputes by international arbitration or judicial determination." The triple lock itself was endorsed by the sovereign Irish people in two referendums: the second Nice treaty referendum and the second Lisbon treaty referendum. The triple lock was included in solemn national declarations in those treaties. Any question of changing the triple lock will require a referendum of the Irish people. What is the Government afraid of in putting this to a referendum? The Irish people have spoken twice on this issue and have supported the triple lock. Any change will require a referendum, so this should be put to the people.

Sentiment score: 0.03