Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government commits to the retention of the triple lock but the context has changed because of the war in Ukraine and the behaviour of Russia on the UN Security Council. If we look at Ireland's performance on the UN Security Council for the past two years, it has been quite effective and impactful, particularly in facilitating humanitarian access to areas of significant and severe conflict like Syria and Ethiopia.

Many of the authorities there did not like what Ireland was doing because we were defending those who desperately needed humanitarian access. It was a lesson to us too. It opened up some insights as to where this is all going. We need a debate on that in the House. Perhaps we could organise a discussion at committee level first. In the interests of the peacekeeping tradition, which I am talking about first and foremost, I want to see Ireland continue to play its role on the peacekeeping front primarily. That is our greatest strength. We are not a military power and we never will be a military power of any consequence, but we can contribute significantly to peace in the world and to the assistance of people who are under threat because of war and starvation.

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