Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

The UN mandate gives a legitimacy to peacekeeping missions which would be impossible to replace. The blue beret our troops have worn with pride offers them a huge level of protection, and instead of acknowledging that, the Government is undermining this. In the election, Fianna Fáil promised reform of the triple lock, not to tear it to shreds. Yet another election promise is in tatters.

On Friday, as parents of children with additional needs without a school place slept out on the streets, the Tánaiste advocated spending billions on buying fighter jets. Meanwhile, there are only enough navy personnel to crew one ship to patrol our extensive coastline. What other multilateral body can confer the same legitimacy as UN-mandated missions, and where does the Taoiseach want to send Irish troops that they cannot already go to?

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