Cabinet ministers to discuss plans to turn triple lock into 'double lock'

Under the proposed legislation set to go before Cabinet, only government and Dáil approval will be required to deploy troops

The 'Irish Examiner' understands that Helen McEntee, the current defence minister, is expected to bring the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2026 to Cabinet on Tuesday. File Picture: Eamonn Farrell / © RollingNews.ie

Ministers will discuss plans to unpick Ireland’s triple lock and turn it into a “double lock” at Cabinet on Tuesday.

It comes as veteran Fianna Fáil TD and former defence minister Willie O’Dea suggested that a referendum should be held on the matter.

The Irish Examiner understands that Helen McEntee, the current defence minister, is expected to bring the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2026 to Cabinet on Tuesday.

This will provide for the removal of the triple lock mechanism governing the deployment of Defence Forces personnel on international missions.

Currently, Defence Forces missions must go through three stages of approval before more than 12 troops can be sent abroad on peacekeeping missions.

This involves Cabinet approval, approval from the Dáil, and authorisation from the United Nations Security Council.

However, the Government has been mulling over removing the UN requirement due to its concerns about the possibility of a veto.

Government sources told the Irish Examiner that the “case for reform has been reinforced” by Ireland's recent withdrawal from Operation IRINI, an anti-arms smuggling operation in the Mediterranean.

The UN Security Council resolution lapsed on May 24, which resulted in Irish troops withdrawing from the mission.

“This not only impacts the mission itself, but also deprives our Defence Forces of valuable operational experience and international co-operation,” one government source said.

50 members or fewer

Under the proposed legislation, only government and Dáil approval will be required to deploy troops. Any deployment must remain consistent with the principles of the UN Charter and international law.

However, a Dáil resolution will not be required if a mission involves 50 members of the Defence Forces or fewer.

An annual report on deployments will be provided to the Dáil, with the Oireachtas committee on defence notified when deployments involving fewer than 50 Defence Forces personnel are approved by the Cabinet.

The plan is set to reignite an ongoing row between the Government and opposition parties, with the latter steadfast in its opposition to any changes to the triple lock.

Posting on X on Friday, Mr O’Dea shared an article about Taoiseach Micheál Martin supporting a referendum to change the number of Cabinet ministers allowed under the Constitution.

Mr O’Dea said: “How about a referendum people actually want, like on the triple lock?”

• Louise Burne is the Political Correspondent with the Irish Examiner.