Cork TD will oppose an attempt by Goverment to end triple lock mechanism

A Cork TD has accused the Government of wanting to “do away with a key protection” of Irish neutrality.

Cork South Central TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, who is Sinn Féin’s foreign affairs spokesperson, said his party would oppose any attempts, as he put it, to undermine Ireland’s neutrality.

His remarks come amid reports that Tánaiste Simon Harris is planning to bring to cabinet a draft law which would unravel the triple lock mechanism.

The triple lock guarantees that no more than 12 Irish soldiers can be deployed in overseas peacekeeping missions without the permission of the Government, the Dáil, and the United Nations.

The Defence (Amendment) (Number 2) Act 1960, requiring the three forms of authorisation, was introduced to allow troop deployment on UN peacekeeping missions, and has been known as the triple lock since the early 1960s. Members of successive governments have argued that the triple lock effectively gives the five permanent members of the UN Security Council veto power over the deployment of Irish peacekeeping troops.

The five permanent members of the Security Council are the United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom.

Each permanent member of the Security Council has veto power over peacekeeping missions, and the UN has not agreed any new peace keeping missions since 2014.

Mr Ó Laoghaire said that Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael both want to introduce legislation which would end the triple lock, something he said Sinn Féin would oppose.

“Sinn Féin will oppose any attempts by government to undermine Ireland’s neutrality,” he said.

“Irish neutrality, and having an independent foreign policy, is a strength. It is valued and supported by the Irish people.

“On the international stage, neutrality has underpinned our contribution to peacekeeping and diplomacy. It has never been a weakness.”

Describing the mechanism as “triple lock neutrality protection”, Mr Ó Laoghaire said it was a core component of Ireland’s independent foreign policy and had been enshrined in national declarations to the Irish people by governments in advance of multiple European referendums. “Sinn Féin is proud of the role Irish peacekeepers have played in conflict resolution across the world over many decades and believe that the triple lock enhances the reputation of Ireland and our peacekeepers,” Mr Ó Laoghaire said.

“Neutrality is a strength for Ireland and enjoys popular support. The government getting rid of the triple lock would do away with a key protection.

“The priority of any incoming government must be to rebuild our Defence Forces and ensure that they can participate and contribute in UN Peacekeeping missions to the best of their abilities,” he said.

“Instead of unravelling the triple lock, supporting and investing in our defence forces should be the priority.”