Micheál Martin: 'Any reform of triple lock does not involve erosion or undermining of Irish neutrality'

Group of Fianna Fáil TDs raise concerns at 'heated but respectful' parliamentary party meeting 

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the legislation to alter the triple lock had been in the party's manifesto ahead of the 2024 general election and was in the programme for government, which was agreed by 93% of the party's membership. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins

Changes to Ireland's triple lock do not undermine the country's neutrality, the Taoiseach has said.

Micheál Martin's comments came as a group of Fianna Fáil TDs raised concerns at a "heated but respectful" parliamentary party meeting that changes to the long-standing policy would fundamentally alter the party's traditional outlook.

Speaking at Dublin Castle ahead of the meeting, Mr Martin said the legislation to alter the triple lock had been in the party's manifesto ahead of the 2024 general election and was in the programme for government, which was agreed by 93% of the party's membership.

“People are entitled to raise issues at the parliamentary party, no issue with that, and we’ll discuss it at length and go through it," said Mr Martin.

“But the real issue facing us is that we may not be in a position to participate in peacekeeping missions in the future if we rely on UN Security Council approval because already we’ve had to pull out of Operation IRINI in the Mediterranean, and indeed Unifil.

“Any reform of the triple lock does not involve any erosion or undermining of Irish neutrality,” said the Fianna Fáil leader.

“We’re not joining any military bloc, we have no intention. Neither have we any interest of participating in any wars or conflicts. We’re peacekeepers and that’s our strength.”

The triple lock is a three-step approval process required before Ireland can deploy more than 12 Defence Forces personnel overseas at any one time.  

The Government plans to remove the requirement for a UN mandate before Irish troops can be deployed abroad.

Under the proposed changes, future overseas deployments would require approval from the Cabinet and the Dáil only.

At the parliamentary party meeting, which was described by sources as "robust, but not a row", European affairs minister Thomas Byrne outlined the reasons for changing the policy, while Limerick TD Willie O'Dea was said to have spoken about the issues with changing the policy.

Further education minister James Lawless told members that a sovereign nation "should not be beholden to an external body for decisions on defence".

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He said it should be "galling" that a party which positioned itself as a republican movement would "be subject to a veto by his majesty's government and maybe even Nigel Farage".

Speaking earlier in the day, public expenditure minister Jack Chambers said it is "absolutely not" a change of policy.

"We went to the people in terms of our party manifesto on reforming the triple lock, and that was reflected in the programme for government.

"I think it's important we have healthy debate within the party on all matters.," said Mr Chambers. 

"But it is something that was reflected in our manifesto and in the programme for government, and is very much an informed policy position on the basis of the kind of changing position of geopolitics."