Waterford ministers Cummins and Butler vote in favour of removing Triple Lock

Two Waterford ministers have voted in favour of removing the Triple Lock.

Minister John Cummins and Minister Mary Butler both voted for the legislation which came before the Dáil last night.

Sinn Féin TDs David Cullinane and Conor McGuinness both voted against.

At present, the Triple Lock means that the Government must seek the approval of the UN before deploying more than 12 members of the Defence Forces overseas.

The bill, which seeks to end the requirement for UN approval, is still in its early stages and will be further scrutinised over the coming months.

Speaking after the vote last night, Deputy Cullinane said that Ministers Butler and Cummins must “answer to the people of Waterford” after voting in favour of the legislation.

Deputy Cullinane said their decision to support the Government legislation removes a “vital safeguard” around the deployment of Irish Defence Forces personnel overseas.

He stated: “Tonight, Mary Butler and John Cummins voted to dismantle the Triple Lock and they must now answer to the people of Waterford for that decision.

“This is not a minor or technical change. The consequences are enormous.

“The Triple Lock has been a vital safeguard governing the deployment of Irish troops overseas. It requires the approval of the government, the Dáil and a UN mandate.

“Mary Butler and John Cummins have now voted to remove the requirement for that UN mandate.”

Deputy Cullinane said that in the view of Sinn Féin, this represents a major change in Irish foreign policy.

“In our view, that is dismantling a central protection underpinning Irish neutrality and represents a profound shift in Irish foreign and defence policy.

“It clears the way for this government and future governments to deploy Irish troops overseas without a UN mandate.

“It also opens the door to much greater involvement in EU military structures and further alignment with NATO.”

He argued that neutrality has served Ireland well and should be protected.

“Irish neutrality has served our country well. It is rooted in our commitment to peace and peacekeeping, diplomacy, international law and an independent Irish foreign policy.

“These are values that have allowed Ireland to be a strong and credible voice internationally for peace, justice and human rights.

“The Irish people were given explicit assurances around neutrality during the Nice and Lisbon Treaty debates. The Triple Lock was central to those assurances.”

Deputy Cullinane argued that the question of the Triple Lock should have been put to the people in a referendum.

“Those protections should not now be dismantled by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael without first seeking the consent of the Irish people.

“If Mary Butler and John Cummins believe that such a fundamental change has public support, then they should have been prepared to put that question to the people in a referendum.

“Instead, they voted tonight to remove this safeguard without giving the Irish people the final say.”

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said recently that the issue of the Triple Lock would not be put to a referendum because no change to the Constitution is required.

The Government argues that Ireland should not require a mandate from the UN Security Council to deploy its Defence Forces abroad.

In particular, it has raised concerns that Russia, China and the United States can prevent the deployment of Irish troops overseas.

However, Sinn Féin insists that the Triple Lock is a key element of Irish neutrality that should not be removed.