Row over Irish neutrality and The Troubles erupts during Tipperary council meeting

Arguments broke out between councillors in Tipperary regarding Ireland’s neutrality during a plenary meeting held in Clonmel on Monday December 8.

The disagreements began when two different motions involving the issue of the government removing the ‘Triple Lock’, were brought forward to the meeting for consideration.

Ireland’s “triple lock” is the set of conditions that must be met before the Irish Defence Forces can take part in overseas military missions other than humanitarian or emergency operations.

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The first motion was brought forward by Independent Cllr Jim Ryan. Members of Tipperary’s Neutrality Network were also present at the meeting.

Cllr Ryan told the meeting that the group had secured over 1,000 signatures across Tipperary in a petition regarding Irish neutrality and protecting the triple lock.

“It’s a big issue, the more you talk to the general public, the more concerned they are,” explained Cllr Ryan.

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Cllr Ryan told the meeting that his motion called for the government to withdraw the proposed legislation and to bring the issue to a referendum, where the people of Ireland can decide if we have a Triple Lock or not.

Sinn Fein Councillors David Dunne and Annemarie Ryan-Shiner both had a similar motion at the meeting, calling for a referendum vote on the issue. “Please allow the debate around the triple lock to go to a referendum," said Cllr Ryan-Shiner.

“People may have differences of opinions but I think it’s up to the people of this country to decide it. I ask that the issue go to a vote and is not pushed through by the government first,” Cllr Annemarie Ryan-Shiner asked the meeting.

Fianna Fail Cllr Roger Kennedy was the first to disagree with the motion but made it clear that he agreed with neutrality ‘totally’. “The removal of the triple lock would not affect neutrality,” said Cllr Kennedy.

“Do you want to prevent Irish troops from going out to save the people of Gaza, if that’s what is needed?” he asked the meeting.

Fine Gael Cllr Declan Burgess welcomed the discussion on the topic of the triple lock issue. “You have to acknowledge the mandate that the programme for government was given, in relation to the review of this legislation. Unfortunately the triple lock legislation does need to be reviewed and strengthened,” he said.

Cllr Burgess pointed out that the motion made no reference to a referendum and proposed an amendment to the motion saying “we call on the government to provide extensive and additional pre-legislation scrutiny and public engagement.”

Things got heated when Fine Gael Cllr John Fitzgerald spoke at the meeting, saying: “I find it hard to take a lecture from Sinn Fein on this matter. When this country was neutral there was a war raged on our citizens, people in this country lost their lives during the troubles you described, by a prescribed organisation to which you have some connection,” said Cllr Fitzgerald.

Cllr Fitzgerald then went on to name some casualties of the troubles.

Independent Cllr Seamus Morris told the meeting “This day was going really well, until Cllr Fitzgerald lowered the blade and spoke about anything other than what we were trying to speak about with respect.

“It was a respectful debate until then. He named out people that were murdered. Fianna Fail and Fine Gael think they had no role in the war in the North. They did because they worked with the colonisers,” Cllr Morris accused.

Cllr Morris was then interrupted by a member saying “this is not appropriate for today’s meeting.”

After a short break councillors began a vote on whether to pass the amended motion.

The amended motion was seconded by Fine Gael Cllr John Fitzgerald. It passed with 18 councillors voting for the motion, 14 voting against and eight councillors recorded as being absent.