‘Things only change when ordinary people organise to take on the powers that be’

“Neutrality Will Keep Us Living” was the title of a talk about the importance of Ireland’s policy of military neutrality and what can be done to protect it. 

The session held in Annagry, organised by Independent Councillor Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig, featured former Members of European Parliament (MEPs) Clare Daly and Mick Wallace. 

The topic is gaining increasing prominence due to the Irish Government seeking to remove the UN Security Council veto, effectively dismantling the Triple Lock, which protects Irish neutrality.

“Neutrality is key to our defence,” Daly said. “At a time when more and more wars are taking place, with direct complicity of the European Union, this is the time that our government want to ditch neutrality.

“The battle is very much alive around the triple lock. These things only change when ordinary people organise to take on the powers that be. It is a struggle that needs to be undertaken globally. “

Ireland’s policy of military neutrality, codified in the protocol attached to the Lisbon Treaty, supports efforts to promote peace and development through the European Union and the United Nations. Neutrality is the policy of military non-alignment, upheld by the Triple Lock, which requires the approval of the United Nations, the Government, and the Dáil for overseas deployment of more than 12 troops. This foreign policy informs Ireland’s approaches to human rights, conflict resolution, and peacekeeping. 

“Our history shows that we have huge potential to play on the international stage,” she continues. “We have played a key role historically; we were the first people in the United Nations to sign what became the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Little Ireland did what the big states could not do.” 

Ireland's efforts in the UN led to the creation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1968 and continue to promote disarmament and peace. 

“So neutrality is not just stepping back; it is actively using diplomacy and international law to engage in a productive way on the world stage. Our neutrality is a proactive,  internationalist position in solidarity with oppressed people everywhere.”

Daly cited Ireland’s work in Africa, such as training Civil Servants in Zambia following independence in 1964.

“Ireland is uniquely placed, having been subjected to colonialism ourselves, being very much in the Global North, we more than anyone can play a role in defending International Law, human rights and the United Nations. 

“There is no other way of making ourselves safe. Going down the road of military integration will only result in Irish men and women being killed.”

Daly and Wallace are closely aligned in their anti-war and anti-imperialist stances, as well as their opposition to NATO. They established a registered political party to further these aims, Independents4Change, in 2014. 

In 2019, Daly and Wallace were elected as MEPs and joined The Left group in the European Parliament. They lost their seats in the 2024 European Parliament elections. 

Wallace went on to highlight that Ireland is one of the European Union’s largest traders with Israel, a country that is violating international law. 

“They are saying the Triple Lock is no longer fit for purpose, that’s saying the UN is not fit for purpose, as we cannot go on all of the UN missions we want to go on. They want to go on missions that the UN disagree with. 

“That is not peacekeeping, that is taking sides. If we want to be safe and secure, a great way of doing it is by not threatening others, not getting involved in military missions on any side and developing good relations with everyone. The alternative does not make sense. It is absolutely horrific that the truth is not being told; that’s where we are today.

“As Clare said, there is potential for things to change and our neutrality has never been so important.”

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme