Changes to Triple Lock Mechanism will bring greater autonomy – Callaghan

Removing UN Security Council approval for deployment of Irish troops for peacekeeping service will give greater decision-making control to Government and Dáil, a Fine Gael TD has said.

Deputy Catherine Callaghan said: “The Social Democrats are today calling on the Government to hold a plebiscite to allow the Irish people to express their view on whether a United Nations mandate should remain a requirement for Ireland to deploy peacekeeping troops overseas. Unless this was to be a constitutional referendum, this would have no purpose, as our constitution already states that: ‘The right to raise and maintain military or armed forces is vested exclusively in the Oireachtas.’

“As a person who has worn a blue beret and an Irish flag on my sleeve, I object in the strongest possible terms to countries like Russia and leaders like Vladamir Putin having the power to intervene in and potentially prevent Ireland’s participation in overseas missions as their role as permanent members of the UN Security Council currently permits them to do.

“Our Defence Forces are amongst the mostly highly trained soldiers in the world, with our special forces operatives equally as skilled as those of our neighbouring countries. But in 2022 due to the current parameters of the Triple Lock, these highly trained military personnel were not permitted to be part of the close protection team (CPT) that accompanied the then Minister for Defence, Simon Coveney when he visited Ukraine in the aftermath of the Russian invasion. Instead, members of the Garda Emergency Response Unit (ERU) went to Ukraine as the CPT, which is a stark contrast to leaders from other countries who were protected by their own country’s military.

“While members of the ERU are highly skilled, they are trained for police operations. Our Irish Army Ranger Wing are at the top of their game in military operations and should be fulfilling these protection duties. This would be possible under the proposed changes to the Triple Lock.

“The Social Democrats and other members of the opposition maintain this proposed change to the Triple Lock will threaten our neutrality. This is not correct. Making this change enables us to continue to play our part in international peacekeeping while demonstrating our interoperability by working with and alongside other like-minded countries – without giving others we don’t align with the power to decide for us.

“The Social Democrats’ proposal to hold a plebiscite appears to be an attempt to align themselves with an emotive issue, without having to state their own position. Fine Gael’s position on this is clear; we want to decide where our troops go.”