With the discussion of the removal of the Triple Lock in full swing within the Irish government, we take a look at the background and what’s at stake in the arguments

Talks in Dáil Éireann have recently focused on removing the triple lock on the Irish Defence Forces, but many are questioning this decision and how it may affect Ireland’s neutrality.  

In a statement on March 4^th, Tánaiste Simon Harris said: “We are living in a new era in Europe, in which Ireland also faces significant new security and defence challenges, and we must consider how best to respond.” 

So, what is the Triple Lock, and how does it work? 

The Triple Lock is a legislative device created in 2001, which requires that all overseas peacekeeping missions carried out by the Irish Defence Forces must be approved and mandated by the United Nations Security Council, Dáil Éireann and the Irish Government.  

This means that if Irish Defence Forces are intending on going to or supporting a specific country, they must first receive approval from these three bodies, hence the term Triple Lock.  

The argument for the removal of the Triple Lock is to ensure that permanent members of the UN Security Council – Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, China and France – no longer have the power to ‘veto’ Irish peacekeeping missions.  

The argument against the removal of the Triple Lock is whether this decision will impact Ireland’s status of neutrality when it comes to war. 

As it stands, the Irish Defence Forces currently provide peacekeeping support to countries at war, including non-lethal aid (such as medical equipment, body armour, etc.), crisis management and humanitarian relief. 

The removal of the Triple Lock would not change this support. However, it would no longer be at the discretion of the three bodies to determine where the Irish Defence Forces send troops on these peacekeeping missions. 

The removal of the Triple Lock would mean that the decision would fall entirely on the Irish Government and Dáil Éireann.  

In an interview with TheCity, Sinn Féin TD and spokesperson for communication Martin Kenny spoke about the importance of Irish neutrality, specifically to the Irish people. 

“Irish society and Irish people for generations now have been very clear that we want to remain militarily neutral, that while we can have a political position on a conflict or a war that’s going on in the world, we are not a country that would take a military side on that,” he said.   

Kenny also said that the current political climate internationally serves as an example of the need for frameworks in defence which serve the population, regardless of who is in government.  

“It’s important that we have certain things in place to guard against the unforeseeable circumstances that we might not recognise happening in the future.” 

However, some commentators, including the Irish Times columnist and former political editor Stephen Collins, are critical of Ireland’s current stance on neutrality. Collins said that other EU countries are also critical of what they consider Ireland’s “complacent” stance on the issue. 

“I don’t think it makes sense. There has not been a new UN approved mission for over 10 years,” said Collins.  

He also remarked on the issue of funding from the EU, and how it potentially conflicts with Ireland’s neutral stance.  

 “The EU is planning on issuing 150 billion euros worth of bombs to support EU defence, and as members of the EU, we will have to contribute to that, so it makes a mockery of the fact that we, in theory, cannot help another EU country but we can contribute money to their defence,” he said. 

Understanding the arguments for and against the Triple Lock also raises the question: should the removal of the triple lock be subject to a referendum, or based on a government decision on behalf of the people?

We posed this question to both sides of the argument.

Martin Kenny and Sinn Féin believe that the Irish people should have a say in the removal of the triple lock, based off current opinion polls.

“We see the rise in fascism in some places around the world… The Irish people are very wise in their decisions in terms of what way they want to go,” according to Kenny.

Sinn Fein nevertheless holds the belief that the defence forces require reform.

“We also recognise that Irish people want Ireland to be a country which is safe and secure, and that we have an armed forces that is capable and competent.”

Stephen Collins said that the possibility of the decision to be brought to a referendum would lead to an array of “claims and counterclaims.”

“The thing about referendum campaigns that I have found is that people can make it up as they go along.

“People say a change in the Constitution would result in consequences which they would not necessarily have,” he said.

Having spoken to representatives from both sides of a complex situation, the argument in favour of the Triple Lock removal lies around the independence of the Irish Government to make their own decisions when it comes to foreign policy, and the argument against the Triple Lock removal lies around the fear of what conflicts may come in the future, and whether this would be the best for the country.