Defending the triple lock
Congratulations to the President, Catherine Connolly. In contrast to Donald Trump, who joked about the sinking of an Iranian vessel with the loss of 84 lives, she poignantly explained that “the horror of war can never be normalised or accepted”, writes Kieran Allen from the Irish Neutrality League.
What a contrast to the Irish Government, which has refused to condemn the US and Israel’s actions. Even the Spanish Government has done so.
However, this supine position sheds light on the Government agenda. They pretend to support neutrality, while acting as paid-up members of the Western imperialist club.
They travelled to Washington to present shamrocks to Donald Trump, even though he launched an attack on Iran, kidnapped the Venezuelan President and promised to invade Greenland. Can you imagine if a similar gesture were made to Putin, who has displayed his own imperialist ambition in Ukraine?
They have refused to close Shannon airport to US troops; even as they launch attacks on Iran.
They seek to abolish the ‘triple lock’, which prevents more than 12 Irish soldiers from entering a conflict zone without the sanction of the United Nations. This measure was a concession to the Irish people, allowing them to vote for the Lisbon Treaty after they initially rejected it.
Logically, the Government should put its proposal to abolish the triple lock to a referendum. They refuse to do so because they fear losing.
Instead, the Government is relying on its parliamentary majority to push through the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025.
The rationale, which government spokespersons repeat constantly, is that the United Nations Security Council is deadlocked, and one can expect either Trump or Putin to veto any peacekeeping force.
They fail to mention that the UN General Assembly can recommend action, including peace operations, through a United for Peace resolution.
The real issue, however, is that this government wants to draw closer to either NATO or an EU army.
This is why their Defence Amendment Bill proposes that more than 50 Irish troops can be sent abroad as part of an ‘international force’ “established, led, organised or supported by… any… regional arrangement or body that operates in a manner consistent with the United Nations Charter and international law”.
This opens the door to troops being sent as part of NATO missions, or even so-called “coalitions of the willing”, like George W Bush assembled to invade Iraq, so long as they are portrayed as a “regional” arrangement.
Only the Government, not any independent legal advisor, will determine whether a ‘regional body’ is acting in a way that is consistent with the United Nations Charter.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD once described the triple lock as “the core of Irish neutrality”. But times change as we are in a more dangerous world of geopolitical rivalries.
All the more reason to restore Ireland’s anti-colonial tradition. As a neutral country, we should speak out against all empires and be a voice for peace.
Kieran Allen is an associate professor at University Collage Dublin (UCD) and activist with the Irish Neutrality League, and author.
