Irish Neutrality - the Triple Lock

During the March 2026 meeting of Dublin City Council, I made a contribution in support of Cllr Cieran Perry's motion calling on the government to retain the Triple Lock on deploying troops overseas. This is what I said:

Ireland’s neutrality is a positive position. It informs our approach to peace-support operations, crisis management, conflict resolution and peace-building. Any major change to our current form of neutrality should be tested first via a Citizens’ Assembly or by referendum - including any changes to the so-called ‘Triple Lock’. This is just basic democracy, a keeping of a promise made 25 years ago.

There is no conflict between defending ourselves and neutrality. We should fund the defence forces adequately and give them the equipment they need.

As the motion says, the Triple Lock was introduced to quell fears that approving the Lisbon Treaty would pull Ireland into EU military structures. In 2002, article 29.4.9 was inserted into the Irish Constitution to specifically rule out common defence with the EU. Just as well given what we’re hearing from the EU today. Ursula von der Leyen made the statement that “for regional security and stability, it is of the utmost importance that there is no further escalation through Iran’s unjustified attacks on partners in the region”. She had not a single word to say about the clearly illegal, reckless and indiscriminate bombing of Iran by the US and Israel.

This current illegal bombing of Iran by the US and Israel, including the mass murder of little girls in school, shows us why it is vital that Ireland maintains its ability to act independently of whoever the leading power of the day happens to be. It does not require the gift of prophecy to see a newly re-armed Europe – the EU is spending €800bn of our tax money on “rearmanent” - taking its place among the Great Nations Of The World, proudly bombing brown people back to the stone age for “security” or “regional stability”.

I believe in democracy: If we want Ireland to be involved in the global military-industrial complex, let’s put it to the people. The government can make the case that there’s money in it – that there are jobs and money from getting in on the rearmament gold rush. However, I will say this: unlike our government, most Irish people are not emotionally calcified men operating in a bizarre echo chamber where cruelty is rebranded “making the hard decisions” and tugging the forelock to despicable bullies is “bravery”. "

The Social Democrats policy on neutrality is here: https://www.socialdemocrats.ie/our-policies/neutrality/