Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)

In 2013, the Taoiseach rounded on Fine Gael in this House over the proposal to change the triple lock. He said that it would damage neutrality and "would contribute nothing to international peace". When the Nice referendum was rejected in 2001 and Lisbon in 2008, his Government - Fianna Fáil was in power - gave a guarantee to the electorate in the form of a solemn national declaration on neutrality and retaining the triple lock in order to get both referendums through. One line in the declaration says, "In line with its traditional policy of military neutrality, Ireland is not bound by any mutual defence commitment." I have the two declarations in my hand. Has the Taoiseach forgotten what he stated here in 2013? Is he going to betray the electorate? That was a solemn national declaration by the State, by the people of this State, put together by his Government. Is he going to betray the electorate of that State and what they voted for in those two solemn declarations? Is Fianna Fáil going to reject the democratic wishes of the majority of Irish people, who want to protect military neutrality?

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