McDonald accuses Taoiseach of ‘profound betrayal’ over Triple Lock changes

The Government argues UN Security Council vetoes threaten Irish peacekeeping, while opposition TDs warn the proposed changes could undermine neutrality

Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald again called for the proposed changes to the Triple Lock to be put to a referendum. Picture: Liam McBurney/PA Wire

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has accused Taoiseach Micheál Martin of “profound betrayal” of the Irish people over the Government’s plans to remove the Triple Lock.

However, during a heated Leaders’ Questions session, Mr Martin accused both Ms McDonald and People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy of being “disingenuous”, arguing that failure to change the system would bring an end to Irish peacekeeping.

“The UN Security Council is no longer functional; it's paralysed,” he said.

The Dáil will debate the proposed removal of the Triple Lock on Wednesday.

Under the current system, Dáil approval, Government approval and a UN mandate are required to deploy more than 12 Irish Defence Forces personnel overseas on peacekeeping missions.

The Government is proposing to remove the requirement for UN approval, arguing that permanent members of the Security Council, including Russia, China and the United States, can veto missions.

McDonald calls for referendum on Triple Lock

In the Dáil, Ms McDonald again called for the proposed changes to the Triple Lock to be put to a referendum, arguing that the Nice and Lisbon treaties were passed on the basis of guarantees that Irish neutrality would not be affected.

She argued that “scrapping the Triple Lock opens the door to Ireland being dragged into EU military structures, into dangerous alliances, and further alignment with NATO”.

She said “none of this is supported by the Irish people”.

“You want to rob the Irish people of their rightful place as custodians of our neutrality,” Ms McDonald said.

“How disgraceful. It is not for you, for Fianna Fáil, for Fine Gael, or your Government to decide the future of Irish neutrality.

“Ask this question in a referendum. Let the people of Ireland call this. Let the people vote on this, because anything else is a profound betrayal by your Government.” 

Ms McDonald also argued that the “necessity for a UN mandate is essential to ensure our compliance with international law”.

Mr Martin accused the Sinn Féin leader of being “disingenuous and dishonest”, arguing that reform of the Triple Lock was “fundamentally about keeping alive the Irish tradition of peacekeeping” and “keeping alive our capacity to have an independent foreign policy”.

The Taoiseach argued that Irish troops must be withdrawn from Lebanon because of the United States’ “insistence” that the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) mission should end.

He also pointed out that Russia is a permanent member of the Security Council, despite its invasion of Ukraine being a “wilful violation of the UN Charter”.

“The UN Security Council is no longer functional; it's paralysed,” Mr Martin said.

“The world is much more polarised by the hegemonic powers, by the US, by Russia, by China.” 

He also accused Ms McDonald of “undermining parliamentary democracy” by calling for a referendum on a matter that is not contained in the Constitution.

Murphy challenges Government over neutrality

The Triple Lock was also raised during Leaders’ Questions by People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, who argued that the Defence Committee was told in May 2025 that the proposal involved the “removal” of the Triple Lock rather than “reform”.

He also said a senior civil servant in the Department of Defence had indicated that the Irish Government could have sent troops to Iraq if the Triple Lock had not been in place.

The civil servant added: “It is not the case that just because it could do it, it would do it.” 

“What this is about, Taoiseach, is about freeing your hands and the hands of future Irish Governments to send Irish troops to fight in illegal wars wherever you want,” Mr Murphy told the Dáil.

Mr Martin said “Ireland is not a military power” and would “not be participating in a war”.

“Sure, we don't have the capacity to participate in a war.” 

The Taoiseach also insisted that Ireland would not join NATO or any other military alliance.

Ceann Comhairle urges respect during debate

Following a protest in the Dáil chamber on Tuesday, during which TDs held up signs reading “Save Neutrality”, Ceann Comhairle Verona Murphy called on all politicians to show respect.

“However strongly we disagree, we must respect one another's right to speak,” she said.

“That applies equally to both sides of this house. Members must make their case through the strength of their arguments within the time allocated, not through shouting, displaying placards, or intimidating members.”