Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Unfortunately, the Tánaiste did not address the question in regard to whether the Taoiseach participated in the European Council in the presence of the Secretary General of NATO. That is key for a so-called neutral country. The Tánaiste reiterated the Government's response that the triple lock mechanism governs our participation in any military exercise. The previous Government watered down the triple lock through the Defence (Amendment) Act 2006 to the extent that a senior diplomatic official has been quoted as saying that at this stage all that is needed for Ireland to enter into a war is a benediction from the UN . That is the strength the triple lock system has at this stage. As far as I am aware, the invasion of Afghanistan did not have a UN mandate. It was mandated by the UN Security Council, which is dominated by the Americans, the French and the British. It was not sanctioned by the total body of the UN itself. The question, which the Tánaiste might answer with one word, is whether the Taoiseach participated in the European Council with the Secretary General of NATO or if he removed himself for that part of the discussion.

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