Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This change in legislation is to change Ireland's stance on neutrality. It will mean there is no longer a need for approval by the UN for a deployment of more than 12 members of the Defence Forces. This basically means getting rid of the triple lock system. Why fix something if it is not broken? This is not broken. It has worked in the past and it is working now.

As of the end of August the strength of the of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 7,671, with 6,221 on the Army, 755 in the Naval Service and 695 in the Air Corps. The aim is for 11,500 by 2028. There was €1.23 billion allocated to defence in this year's budget. For many decades the Defence Forces have been protecting people and keeping peace. Ireland is looked at as a peacekeeping island. Through our neutrality we go out on peacekeeping missions. Why would the Government try to break something like that? It has worked in the past and is still working. Why not keep it the way it is as a triple lock system? I agree that funding needs to be spent on our Defence Forces as we have helicopters with doors flying off them. God forbid if we had to have any type of defence. We have nothing. I agree money needs to be spent on it but I do not agree with breaking up the triple lock system.

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