Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We will have two minutes each. The neutrality of the Irish State has served us and the globe very well. Our neutrality is the most fundamental part of our foreign policy and a key aspect of that are the checks and triple-lock system imposed on our Defence Forces's ability to operate outside of the State. The Tánaiste is attempting to undo this. He is attempting to radically change our approach to foreign policy for the worse. In opposition, he stated that the triple lock was a necessary. Last week, however, stated that he wanted to do away with it. He was right then, and he is wrong now. The Irish Defence Forces are respected across the globe. Both state actors and non-state actors respect them. We have tragically lost members of our Defence Forces to both types of group, but they are generally able to operate where aligned troops would not be able to do so. Our neutrality and the checks and balances that constrain our ability to deploy those troops abroad aids our forces in the delivery of humanitarian missions from Lebanon to Africa. Changing this would be a grave mistake that would undermine their ability to operate where others cannot.

We are all used to Fianna Fáil breaking its election promises. We are used to its members speaking out of both sides of their mouths. As such, it is no surprise to see the leader of Fianna Fáil go back so blatantly on the commitments made in the party's 2020 general election manifesto regarding the triple-lock system. Last week, the Tánaiste said the triple lock needs to be ended, but his party's most recent manifesto said something different. Fianna Fáil reaffirmed its commitment to the retention of the triple lock of the UN mandate and authorisation and Government and Dáil approval prior to committing Defence Forces' personnel to overseas service. I campaigned against both the Nice and Lisbon treaties on foot of my concerns about Ireland's neutrality being eroded. Under the Seville Declaration, we were promised it would be protected. However, the Tánaiste is seeking to undo that. Guarantees were offered to ensure that the treaties would pass the second time around, and now the leader of Fianna Fáil, following a vote at the Fianna Fáil Ard-Fheis of 2022, has committed to removing this mechanism that has served us so well in the past.

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