Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

The Tánaiste does not like hearing the truth. He tells us today that the proposed modification of the triple lock "does not impact in any way on our policy of military neutrality". That was not always his position. It is the case that in 2013 he said that the triple lock is "at the core" of our neutrality, not something peripheral or separate, but at the core of our neutrality. He said that in the Dáil and he was absolutely correct when he said it. Why is it at the core of our neutrality? It is because without it - and this gets to the heart of the matter and is the Government's actual agenda - a government which has a majority in the Dáil would have been able to send troops to participate in the invasion of Iraq. According to the Tánaiste's own definition, we would still be neutral in doing so as long as we did not formally join NATO. That is absolutely what this is about.

I want to tear up some of the other dishonest presentations by the Tánaiste. He said that if we get rid of the triple lock, we will no longer need to seek the permission of Russia, China, the United States, the United Kingdom or anyone else.

See this speech in context