Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important matter this evening. First, I would like to express my surprise over how the issues involving the changes to the triple lock were announced last week. The Tánaiste, in a lengthy speech to a virtually empty Dáil, confirmed one of the most significant and far-reaching changes to Irish foreign policy in almost 30 years. That could have been organised more substantively. To give the Tánaiste the benefit of the doubt, I believe he genuinely thinks his proposal is in Ireland's best interest. I do not agree with him, but at least he has laid his views on the table. The fact remains that what we are dealing with is the death rattle of neutrality as a meaningful concept. The announcements last week have set a process in motion that we will come to regret deeply. Neutrality in its present form has served us well, and we abandon it at our peril.

There is much to agree with in the motion but there is also much to disagree with, particularly its call to establish yet another citizens' assembly to look into the matter. To protect neutrality as a key component of our democracy, the last thing we need is the fake democracy of a so-called citizens' assembly. I agree, however, that any change of the magnitude proposed by the Tánaiste, particularly the removal of neutrality protections such as the triple lock, should be put directly to the people through a referendum.

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