Neutrality

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#Neutrality

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Micheál Martin inspecting the troops of the 124th Infantry Battalion at Camp Shamrock in Debel, Lebanon, in 2024.</p>

comment-analysis

Our leaders must show courage in commitment to peace by keeping the triple lock

We urge the government to use this moment of heightened conflict to retain the triple lock and speak out against obvious breaches of international law and efforts to undermine the UN

<p>Lelia Doolan will cover 15km a day as part of the journey, which she estimates will take 16 days to complete. Picture: Chani Anderson</p>

spotlight

Cork-born Lelia Doolan, 91, to walk from Shannon to Dublin in protest over US military use of airport

<p>The RAF Akrotiri air base near Limassol was one of the sites in Cyprus hit by Iranian drones. The EU member could invoke Article 42.7 of the Lisbon Treaty. Picture: Petros Karadjias/AP</p>

news

Ireland urged to assist Cyprus if it invokes EU mutual defence clause

Soldier who blew whistle on bullying left to man phone that never rings

politics

Government plan to abolish Triple Lock not a 'done deal' opponents claim

Russia Ukraine War

comment-analysis

Dark money is a threat to national security that Ireland can no longer afford to ignore

Is Ireland drifting from neutrality amid Europe’s €381bn rearmament drive?

comment-analysis

Is Ireland drifting from neutrality amid Europe’s €381bn rearmament drive?

Simon Harris visit to Lebanon

Cabinet set to dismantle triple lock as it amends laws over deploying Irish troops

Ministers are expected to approve a series of amendments to new laws which would dismantle Ireland’s triple lock system

Mon, 26 Jan, 2026

Finland joining NATA Europe Membership Pursue, War, Conflict, Russia, Nuclear Weapons

From guarantee to risk: how Trump has changed Europe’s relationship with Nato

As Trump unsettles alliances, Europe and Ireland face the implications of a world where Nato no longer feels permanent

Sat, 24 Jan, 2026

National Security Strategy still unfinished four years after deadline, experts warn

National Security Strategy still unfinished four years after deadline, experts warn

Experts warn geopolitical instability, cyber threats and war in Ukraine demand urgent completion of Ireland’s first National Security Strategy

Fri, 09 Jan, 2026

Royal Navy shadow Russian ship

Defence spending: Ireland must take security risks seriously

Ireland has one of the lowest rates of military expenditure and capability of any advanced economy — and our position at the edge of Europe is no longer a guarantee of safety

Thu, 08 Jan, 2026

Local authorities won't follow party line on the triple lock

Local authorities won't follow party line on the triple lock

Although the Irish State is praised for having a strong and healthy democracy, the reality is that there are very few actual democratic mechanisms available to the Irish public — and they are often ignored by the Government when convenient

Mon, 29 Dec, 2025

South Africa G20

Louise Burne: Donald Trump manages to loom over G20 without even being there

Meanwhile, Cyril Ramaphosa's spokesman said Ireland was at the summit due to its 'strong bilateral relationship' and 'alignment' with South Africa

Sun, 23 Nov, 2025

Fergus Finlay: Labour's vision has never been to force a unity vote

S Fergus Finlay: Labour's vision has never been to force a unity vote

An aspect of Ivana Bacik's speech at the Labour conference last weekend felt more like something Mary-Lou McDonald would say, writes Fergus Finlay

Tue, 18 Nov, 2025

Sergiy Kyslytsya

Neutrality a 'thing of the past' given threat from Russia, says Ukrainian minister

Sergiy Kyslytsya's comments were echoed by the Finnish ambassador who said her country's love for neutrality 'changed very quickly' after Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Wed, 05 Nov, 2025

Googles AI Data Protection Practices Probed by Irish Regulator

S Ireland is the world's second-largest importer of Israeli goods. We've sold our morals

Ireland has become the world’s second-largest importer of Israeli goods, because we’ve become a middleman in the transfer-pricing maze of the tech sector, a new report shows

Thu, 23 Oct, 2025

Denmark Drones

The EU is preparing for war – is Ireland?

With a marine territory 10 times our landmass, and which includes much of the northern hemisphere’s critical subsea cables, Ireland's defence capabilities should be built around maritime capacity, writes Edward Burke

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

Irish people have a 'degree of naivety' about 'existential threats' from Russia, says Taoiseach

Irish people have a 'degree of naivety' about 'existential threats' from Russia, says Taoiseach

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has claimed there is a "degree of naivety" among the Irish public as to the "existential threats" from Russia and other aggressors.

Thu, 02 Oct, 2025

One-sided discussion on Irish neutrality does not serve democracy

One-sided discussion on Irish neutrality does not serve democracy

The political and media focus on mainstream voices around the triple lock and militarism do not represent the views of an overwhelmingly pro-neutrality public

Thu, 11 Sep, 2025

Colin Sheridan: The end of Unifil is the end of Ireland’s innocence in peacekeeping

Colin Sheridan: The end of Unifil is the end of Ireland’s innocence in peacekeeping

As the UN prepares to end its Unifil mission, Ireland must confront difficult choices about peacekeeping, neutrality and foreign policy identity

Fri, 29 Aug, 2025

ieExplains: What is the triple lock and why is it so important?

ieExplains: What is the triple lock and why is it so important?

This week, the Government is to take the first step in dismantling Ireland's triple lock system that governs the deployment of peacekeepers abroad

Mon, 25 Aug, 2025

City Ruins.

A rules-based order - but who makes the rules?

Active neutrality is something that Irish people strongly identify with. The government’s attempts to remove the Triple Lock threatens to undermine this, writes Rory Rowan

Tue, 22 Jul, 2025

Irish troop missions 'held hostage' by UN veto, says former army colonel

Irish troop missions 'held hostage' by UN veto, says former army colonel

The Oireachtas Defence Committee is continuing hearings on the Defence Bill 2025 which proposes to scrap the 'Triple Lock'

Tue, 01 Jul, 2025

Defence Forces taking part in EU missions without triple lock 'could breach neutrality'

Defence Forces taking part in EU missions without triple lock 'could breach neutrality'

Human rights lawyer warns that if Ireland takes part in OSCE or EU missions without a UN mandate, it could lead to unforeseen breaches our neutrality

Thu, 12 Jun, 2025

Government can't replace triple lock with vague criteria for deploying our troops

Government can't replace triple lock with vague criteria for deploying our troops

We do not want future deployments decided by tight Dáil votes, where partisan, government versus opposition, considerations dominate, writes Derek Mooney

Tue, 10 Jun, 2025

Irish troop deployments

Cross-party group launches Irish Neutrality League campaign to defend Ireland's triple lock

'The biggest obstacle to Ireland taking part in peacekeeping missions has been the neglect of the Defence Forces' said Sinn Féín TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Wed, 09 Apr, 2025

Who does this government serve? Protest crackdowns and neutrality debates spark outrage

Who does this government serve? Protest crackdowns and neutrality debates spark outrage

A speaking rights row, moves away from neutrality, and garda action against anti-war protesters are all signs of a worrying trend for democracy

Thu, 03 Apr, 2025

Irish Neutrality League to protest triple lock changes upon relaunch

Irish Neutrality League to protest triple lock changes upon relaunch

Opposition sources said that they believed that a combined effort would send a stronger message than individual parties opposing the Government

Sun, 23 Mar, 2025

18/3/2010. Army Rangers Exercises

Ireland doesn't build tanks or weapons but SMEs are hoping to benefit from Europe's increased defence spending

With EU defence budgets soaring, Ireland’s tech firms have a chance to play a bigger role in security innovation

Sat, 22 Mar, 2025

07/11/2013. Ministerial Review of the Lebanon Boun

Taoiseach: Russia is 'serious threat' to EU's collective security

Micheál Martin has backed working with EU countries to improve defence capabilities

Thu, 20 Mar, 2025

Handsome young man on his phone in cafe

Sarah Harte: Gen Z won’t fight for Europe — and maybe they have a point

As Europe debates rearmament, cutting social welfare for military spending risks undermining the very values the EU was built on

Wed, 19 Mar, 2025

BELGIUM-EU-POLITICS-ARCHITECTURE-FEATURE

EU 'open to doing more trade with China', says Michael McGrath

The commissioner says the EU wants to have a more balanced trading relationship with China

Mon, 17 Mar, 2025

Belgium Europe Summit

Sarah Harte: Race to re-arm means avoiding groupthink has never been more crucial

This anxious time of turmoil threatens to sweep us all into a new wave of militarism. We must avoid being caught up in the tide

Wed, 12 Mar, 2025

Taoiseach visit to the US

S Fergus Finlay: Can the Taoiseach navigate Trump’s unpredictability during White House visit?

As Micheál Martin visits Washington, he faces diplomatic challenges, Trump’s unpredictability, and Ireland’s critical US ties

Tue, 11 Mar, 2025

Dorcha Lee: If we just keep pretending Ireland isn't really part of Europe, we'll be fine

Dorcha Lee: If we just keep pretending Ireland isn't really part of Europe, we'll be fine

The elephant in the room at tomorrow's Oval Office meeting is a beautifully stuffed, completely neutered Irish wolfhound

Tue, 11 Mar, 2025

Russia Ukraine War

S Mick Clifford: Does neutrality still protect Ireland? Why it’s time for an honest conversation

As global threats rise, Ireland’s neutrality faces scrutiny. Is it a principled stance or outdated idealism? The debate intensifies

Sun, 09 Mar, 2025

Donald Trump,Volodymyr Zelenskyy

S Fergus Finlay: Ireland’s neutrality served us well — but now it’s time to move on

Ireland’s long-held neutrality is no longer viable. In a changing world, we must stand with Ukraine and Europe’s defence

Wed, 05 Mar, 2025

Jennifer Horgan: Why I could never send my children to war — and neither should Ireland

Jennifer Horgan: Why I could never send my children to war — and neither should Ireland

As war rhetoric grows, Ireland must uphold its peace-first stance, rejecting militarisation and reaffirming diplomacy as its global role

Wed, 05 Mar, 2025

Irish Examiner view: Tough times give rise to hard choices on Irish neutrality

Irish Examiner view: Tough times give rise to hard choices on Irish neutrality

This has been the subject matter of often incendiary discourse since the Second World War, or The Emergency as was known in Ireland

Tue, 04 Mar, 2025

ieExplains: What will removing the UN mandate mean for the triple lock?

ieExplains: What will removing the UN mandate mean for the triple lock?

Tánaiste Simon Harris is due to bring proposals to Cabinet that would increase the number of troops Ireland can send abroad without triggering the lock from 12 to 50

Mon, 03 Mar, 2025

MICHEAL MARTIN

Ireland to increase financial contributions to Ukraine, Taoiseach says

Meanwhile, Simon Harris is to present proposals to Cabinet to change Ireland’s 'triple lock' system for deploying soldiers on peacekeeping, crisis management and evacuation missions

Mon, 24 Feb, 2025

TOPSHOT-UKRAINE-RUSSIA-CONFLICT-WAR

Hope flickers in Ukraine and Europe as Trump and Putin conspire

On the third anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, the Irish Examiner's Security Correspondent examines the prospects for Ukraine, and Europe

Mon, 24 Feb, 2025

European Parliament in Brussels

S Writers debate: Should the EU form an army, and should Ireland participate?

In light of the United States saying it cannot be reied on for the region's security, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the formation of a cross-continental force - but is it a good idea? Our experts debate

Sun, 23 Feb, 2025

Irish deputy premier on Ukraine peace talks

Ireland should not join Nato or chance stance on neutrality, says Tánaiste

Simon Harris 'really clear' that more investment is needed in defence and security

Sat, 22 Feb, 2025

'There can be no deal for Ukraine without Ukraine'

'There can be no deal for Ukraine without Ukraine'

As world leaders grandstand with their own agendas on the war in Ukraine, it can become easy to forget the impact it has on everyday people

Sat, 22 Feb, 2025

Irish deputy premier on Ukraine peace talks

Tánaiste won't break triple lock rules but admits Irish peacekeepers may play a role in Ukraine

Currently, the triple lock mechanism only allows deployment where there is a UN mandate either from the Security Council or General Assembly, Government approval, and a Dáil resolution

Thu, 20 Feb, 2025

Taoiseach: Ireland prepared to send Irish peacekeepers to Ukraine

Taoiseach: Ireland prepared to send Irish peacekeepers to Ukraine

Defence Forces members could be deployed as part of a peacekeeping force in future if a ceasefire is secured

Wed, 19 Feb, 2025

Colin Sheridan: What’s next for our selective neutrality?

S Colin Sheridan: What’s next for our selective neutrality?

We need to face up to the nuances and quirks of our neutrality while acknowledging the malaise in the Defence Forces charged to defend it, writes Colin Sheridan

Sat, 15 Feb, 2025

Ministerial Review of the Lebanon Bound 42nd Infantry Group in Dublin

Ireland spends least on defence among 38 European nations, study finds

Ireland ranks lowest in Europe for defence spending, as global military budgets surge amid growing security concerns

Thu, 13 Feb, 2025

Leinster House media briefings

Taoiseach accused of 'obsession' with changing Ireland's triple lock neutrality system

People Before Profit's Paul Murphy: 'Micheál Martin was telling the truth in 2013 when he said the triple lock is at the very core of our neutrality'

Tue, 11 Feb, 2025

The Irish public are blissfully unaware that the Third World War has already begun

The Irish public are blissfully unaware that the Third World War has already begun

The sad fact is that, while we may be neutral, our Defence Forces are well and truly neutered, writes Dorcha Lee

Tue, 11 Feb, 2025