‘Betrayal of neutrality’: Donegal councillor condemns triple lock vote

A councillor has called out government TDs for voting to abolish the triple lock.

The triple lock is a system which requires the approval of the Government, Dáil and United Nations for overseas deployment of more than 12 troops.

However, after the Defence (Amendment) Bill: Second Stage was passed on Wednesday, October 21, the UN Security Council veto has been removed, thus dismantling the triple lock. TDs had the opportunity to cast a vote on the bill, with 79 voting ‘Tá’ and 71 voting ‘Níl’.

Fianna Fáil TDs Pat ‘the Cope’ Gallagher and Charlie McConalogue voted in favour, while 100% Redress TD Charles Ward and Sinn Féin TDs Padraig MacLochlainn and Pearse Doherty voted against abolishing the triple lock.

“This is a fundamental change to Ireland’s historic position on Irish neutrality,” Teachta Doherty said. “The Government has no mandate to make this decision on behalf of the Irish people. This must be put to a referendum. Let the people decide!”

The yes votes consisted of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the Green Party and some Independent TDs, all part of the coalition government. The opposition united against, with Sinn Féin, Social Democrats, People Before Profit, Aontú, Labour and some Independents.

“The Government's decision to abolish the triple lock on Irish military neutrality is deeply concerning,” Ward, 100% Redress TD, added. “This mechanism has been an important safeguard, requiring UN Security Council authorisation alongside Irish Government and Dáil approval before Irish troops can be deployed overseas on peace-support operations.”

Independent councillor Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig described the two votes in favour of the bill as “a betrayal of neutrality.”

He further added: “By voting to remove the triple lock, the UN requirement for deploying our soldiers to foreign wars, the political establishment has signalled its intent. But we must ask: why now, and for whom?

“Pat 'the Cope' Gallagher and Charlie McConalogue voted for this ending of the UN requirement, effectively allowing Irish soldiers to be sent to wars not of our making. Are they being honest and open with their electorate?”

The government argue that other countries, such as France, the UK, China, the US and Russia, having a say in how troops are deployed undermines sovereignty, while Opposition TDs say that the mechanism protects and upholds Irish neutrality.

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 and informs Ireland’s approaches to human rights, conflict resolution, and peacekeeping.

“The rhetoric of ‘protecting Ireland’ is a dangerous falsehood,” Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig continued. “By aligning them and therefore the people of Ireland with EU militarism and NATO-adjacent structures, Ireland does not become safer; it becomes a target.

“This is not neutrality; this is submission to the imperatives of EU, Yankee, and English imperialism. We are witnessing the dilution of Irish sovereignty.

“We demand that our TDs explain why they are choosing the interests of imperialist powers over the welfare of their own constituents. Neutrality is not weakness; it is a shield for the majority in Ireland, especially the working class. We must defend it with every sinew in our bodies.”

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme