Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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171. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the removal of the triple lock will pave the way for greater Defence Forces participation in EU-led military missions. [17269/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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172. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence the timeframe in which he intends to bring forward his proposals to abolish the triple lock neutrality protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17922/25]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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174. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will provide a commitment to the triple lock mechanism for foreign military activities. [15577/25]

Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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176. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if the Government will hold up to its commitment that it gave to the Irish people 20 years ago around the triple lock; if it will remain in place in its current form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16920/25]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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186. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence when the draft Bill to dismantle the triple lock will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15515/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 171, 172, 174, 176 and 186 together.

As set out in the Programme for Government, this Government intends to reform the Triple Lock legislation whilst also ensuring that amendments to the legislation are in keeping with our values and policy of military neutrality.

It cannot be emphasised enough, however that there is no connection between the triple lock and our military neutrality.

To be clear firstly on what the 'triple lock' means; it is a mechanism that sets out the conditions under which Irish troops may participate in overseas peace support operations. For Ireland to participate, the operation must be mandated by the United Nations; it must be approved by the Government; and if there are more than 12 military personnel deploying, it must also be approved by Dáil Éireann by means of a resolution.

A new process is clearly needed however, to replace the current system underpinning the deployment of Irish troops abroad, which effectively allows UN Security Council (UNSC) members to bind Ireland’s hands in its international engagement by a veto or threat of the use of a veto.

The Government has therefore approved the Heads of a Bill, presented to Cabinet on 4 March last, to amend the Defence Acts in this regard.

The Bill will provide for the modification of the existing requirement regarding the triple lock’ in relation to the despatch of the Defence Forces for service outside the State as part of an International Force.

In effect, the requirement for a UN Security Council mandate will be removed. In effect, the provision currently allows members of the UNSC to bind Ireland's hands in its international engagement when these are decisions that should be made by our Government and Dáil. Governing principles will, however, be included in the legislation which will apply to any future deployments where operations must adhere to the principles of the UN Charter and international law. These principles will be refined to provide appropriate legal effect during the drafting process.

The proposed changes would still allow participation in UN-led or organised missions, but would also include missions organised or led, for example, by EU, or the OSCE, or other regional arrangements, as is currently the case where there is UN security Council mandate, once they operate in a manner consistent with United Nations Charter and international law.

The Heads agreed by Government will proceed through the pre-legislative scrutiny process once the Committee on Defence and National Security has been established, and later in the year, the Bill will be debated and approved by the Dáil and Seanad, thus providing the Oireachtas with ample opportunity to scrutinise any such proposals. The General Scheme of the Bill will be published on my Department's website shortly.