Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for having selected this topic. I suppose we are asking that the Minister for Defence, Deputy Shatter, avail of the opportunity to clear the record on this matter.

Last weekend there were newspaper reports that the Government was to examine the triple-lock mechanism that has guided Irish participation in international peacekeeping for so long. It was reported that the Minister was to bring a Green Paper to Cabinet this week. Earlier today, the Minister advised the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality that he hopes to bring that Green Paper before Cabinet before the break, which is a positive development. We were also told in media reports - not by the Minister today - that the triple-lock would be part of that review.

While it is unimaginable that the Minister will get his way on this, it is none the less important that we send a message to the Government at this stage that the triple-lock should be retained, and we will do everything we can as Opposition to retain it. While the Minister has never explicitly called for our neutrality to be abandoned, his distaste for neutrality is manifest from virtually all his public utterances. When we hear that he has his sights on the triple-lock, it is natural that there would be concern on this side of the House. Fine Gael has previous history in this regard. The Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, may remember that ten years ago Fine Gael introduced a Bill to remove the triple-lock. My party warned about this policy prior to the last general election, as did the Labour Party. Typically, when the programme for Government was drawn up, the Labour Party policy on the triple-lock went the way of its policy on child benefit and the €1 on a bottle of wine.

For my part and that of my party, I want to reaffirm our commitment to the triple-lock.

Ireland has always attached fundamental importance to the United Nations since it joined 58 years ago and, working with other UN members, Ireland has supported international action in areas such as disarmament, peacekeeping, development and human rights. We are strong and committed supporters of collective security through the United Nations, and this has been the stated policy of many Governments over the past 50 years. Along with this, we have endorsed and supported the primary role of the Security Council in the maintenance of international peace and security in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.

The Nice treaty 2002 with the associated Seville declaration endorsed the stance that the participation of the Defence Forces in overseas operations requires authorisation of the operation by the Security Council or the General Assembly of the United Nations, the agreement of the Government and the approval of Dáil Éireann in accordance with Irish law. The emphasis on the UN is not one we should lightly discard. I acknowledge that the UN is not perfect, but we must recognise that it confers a legitimacy on peacekeeping operations that other international organisations cannot confer. Furthermore, the legitimacy a UN mission confers bolsters the safety and security of our Defence Forces when they participate in peacekeeping missions. Obviously no mission will be without risk, but the absence of the blue hat will heighten the risk. With that in mind, I restate my belief that we should not abandon the triple lock. I hope the Minister can give a positive response.

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