Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Dr. Burke and Mr. Power for their opening statements. I will begin by welcoming Dr. Burke’s comments on the integrity of academics and academia. That is hugely important. The vibrancy of our academic sector and our academics comes from differences of opinions and pushing each other’s work. Calling into question the integrity or bona fides of any academic deeply wounds that and is deeply troubling.

I agree with Senator Craughwell to an extent when he says this issue is a red herring. I reached a different conclusion, however. Our party position is to keep the triple lock. The current proposal in the current legislation to just remove it, without any kind of attempt at reform, is needless. What is driving us as a party is that we do not want to cut the link to the United Nations as severely and as quickly without at least having a conversation about it. Mr. Power referenced the Uniting for Peace resolution that was passed by General Assembly in the 1950s and how it does do not have legal standing in terms of deploying a force. The triple lock, as currently constituted and interpreted, allows Ireland to take part in a mission if a UN General Assembly resolution is agreed at the General Assembly. It does not have to be agreed at the UN Security Council. To speak to Mr. Power’s point about agility, we could, in theory, take part in missions that have been given the imprimatur of the General Assembly.