Ms Lynn Boylan:

I would point to the fact that even though we have changed positions on issues that came up in the Lisbon and Nice treaties, the difference here is that polling consistently shows that the Irish people support neutrality and a majority continues to support the triple lock. There is a conception that our neutrality is already enshrined in the Constitution and as it is something of which Irish people are incredibly proud, I would support having a referendum on neutrality. Regarding the wording of that, we have seen citizens' assemblies being very effective in bringing together advice in a calm and reasoned manner to come up with language. I do not think language is an excuse to not put the question to the people. I would say to the Government, which is proposing to abandon the triple lock, that if it is so certain of its position, it should ask the people because this is a matter of huge significance in terms of our neutrality. People were given assurances after Lisbon and Nice and we had the Seville Declaration that our neutrality was enshrined and the triple lock was fundamental to that. Micheál Martin, the then leader of the Opposition who is now Taoiseach, said on the floor of the Dáil that the triple lock was a crucial part of our neutrality. If the Government wants to abandon the triple lock, it should put it to the people. We can work around finding the language but that should not be a reason to not have a referendum.