Removing Triple Lock an attack on Ireland’s neutrality – Galway TD
Galway West TD Mairéad Farrell has condemned the Government’s move towards dismantling the Triple Lock Neutrality Protection.
The Sinn Féin Deputy made her comments in response to the news that the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, Helen McEntee, will seek cabinet approval to end the Triple Lock.
It is a longstanding policy whereby Irish troops can only be sent abroad on peacekeeping duty with approval from Government, the Dáil and United Nations mandate.
Teachta Farrell said the Triple Lock is valued by the Irish people and should not be removed.
“Within the constitution, sovereignty is vested in the people; removing the triple lock without putting it to referendum is an attack on our sovereignty and our democracy.
“The Government are refusing to put the question of removing the Triple Lock to a referendum because they know that most Irish people believe that it is necessary and is an important protection to ensure our neutrality,” she said.
She said Sinn Féin believed removing the Triple Lock represents a “serious diminution of Irish neutrality”.
“If the Triple Lock neutrality protection was removed, Irish troops could be deployed to any situation on any deployment that the government of the day sees fit to deploy them to. That is not what the Irish people want, it is carte blanche to future Irish governments and indeed will expose future Irish governments to significant pressure of the kind that is likely to impinge on Irish decision making in the future,” Deputy Farrell added.