Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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11. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will outline his proposals to remove the triple lock neutrality protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6108/25]

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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We are returning to this issue again. We have had a discussion regarding the principle of it, and it remains my strong view that the effect of getting rid of the triple lock, whatever the intention, will undermine Irish neutrality. The Tánaiste talked a great deal about the detail and so on. This is an opportunity for him to tell us what is going to be in the legislation and outline, to the greatest detail that he can, what exactly this is going to look like.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy again for engaging on this. I accept that we have very different views on this. I am not trying to deny that. How we engage, however, is important. Teasing through detail, our fundamental views and positions and everyone accepting our bona fides is good. I accept the Deputy's bona fides in terms of the value he attaches to military neutrality. Let me be as helpful as I can.

The Deputy needs to recognise that I have not brought the Bill to Cabinet yet. I intend to bring the draft legislation and general scheme to Cabinet in March. I will publish it straight thereafter, so it will be available for Members of this House and the Irish people in March. I want to be clear. The Deputy made the point about wanting to make sure adequate time is available. That is absolutely my intention. Of course, it will have to have pre-legislative scrutiny. The Government will not seek any waiver to that. That is an opportunity for those who follow these debates from home. That is an opportunity for people, organisations and others to be brought in and to give their views as to what they may think of the legislation, good, bad or indifferent. It is a matter for committees to decide who comes in, and for the committee on defence to make a report, which I will consider.

The Bill will provide for a modification of the existing requirement regarding the triple lock with regard to the dispatch of the Defence Forces for services outside the State as part of an international United Nations force. In effect, the requirement for the UN Security Council mandate will be removed. However, governing principles will be included, which will apply to any future deployments where operations must adhere to the principles of the UN Charter. We are big believers in the UN Charter. We spent most of the time talking about the importance of people adhering to the UN Charter in places such as Ukraine and everywhere else and the absolute primacy of the charter. I intend to ensure that the principles of the charter and international law are embedded in any legislation.

These principles have been refined to ensure appropriate legal effect as part of the drafting process. It is also proposed that the Bill would set out the general principles that will apply when a contingent is being despatched for service and there will be a requirement to seek Government approval. Where the number of Defence Forces is over a certain number, Dáil approval will also be triggered.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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I will not make a final intervention after this because we have ventilated it well enough.

It sounds to some extent as though these are criteria the Dáil should have regard to, but ultimately it remains a decision of the Dáil and there is no safeguard beyond that. I am concerned about that. It is not the UN Security Council or anyone on it that has prevented us from sustaining a peacekeeping presence in the Golan Heights; it is because of a lack of resources and underinvestment in the Defence Forces. The most recent issue for Irish personnel being in a position to contribute to peacekeeping was, unfortunately, the approximately 130 personnel who were withdrawn from the Golan Heights and that was because of the failings and underinvestment in the Defence Forces.

Returning to the first question, the most fundamental issue we have to resolve that is relevant to this area is the proper resourcing of our Defence Forces.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I might come at it from a more positive viewpoint than how the Deputy characterises it. However, I agree with the general point that before we talk about deploying anyone anywhere, we have to make sure we have enough people who are adequately trained, adequately equipped and have the best infrastructure and capabilities available. On that, we might differ in areas of emphasis, but I accept that the Deputy wishes, as I hope he accepts I do, for the men and women of Óglaigh na hÉireann to be properly resourced and that the number of people in the Defence Forces grows.

As I said, the number grew last year, albeit from a very low base. It was the first year in a number of years that we saw a stabilisation in recruitment and retention. We need to drive that on this year as well.

I accept that we have ventilated this a lot and that we will have many more chances to do so in the time ahead. The Bill will also consider other provisions, including additional circumstances around undertaking military close protection duties, emergency evacuation of Irish citizens from volatile security environments and a new purpose of participation in international operations to counter illicit trafficking by sea and air. We have an important role to play in that as an island nation. The legislation will address that too.