Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

78. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence his plans to bring legislation to end the triple lock to Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28214/24]

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

140. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will withdraw plans for legislation to end the triple lock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27526/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 140 together.

On 30 April last, Government approved the proposal to draft the General Scheme of a Bill to govern overseas deployments into the future. Work on drafting those proposals is well underway. This involves, where required, further consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and across Government Departments and key stakeholders.

Subject to receipt of advice from the Attorney General, I will be reverting to Government shortly with the General Scheme of the Bill. Once approved by Government, the Scheme will be referred for pre-legislative scrutiny consideration by the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence to determine if pre-legislative scrutiny is required.

As this legislation advances, there will be ample opportunity for members of the Oireachtas to scrutinise and debate its contents within the Dáil and Seanad.

It is important to emphasise that any legislative proposals will remain fully consistent with the principles of the UN Charter and international law. Any modification to the Triple Lock will continue to require Government and Dáil approval for the dispatch of Defence Forces’ personnel to take part in peacekeeping and similar missions and will do nothing to change Ireland’s traditional position of military neutrality, which is characterised by Ireland's non-participation in any military alliance.