Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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214. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence if he will commit to a public plebiscite on the question of the removal of the triple lock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17086/25]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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There have been a number of calls for a public plebiscite in relation to the Government's proposed changes to the Triple Lock.

It should be understood that this mechanism is not set out in our constitution – it is set down in national legislation, the Defence (Amendment) Act 1960 as amended.

As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland’s policy of military neutrality is characterised by non-membership of military alliances or common or mutual defence arrangements and this policy choice has been practised by successive Governments since the Second World War.

The Government has agreed that a new process is needed to replace the current system governing the overseas deployments of our Defence Forces to take part in peace support or crisis management operations, which effectively allows the Permanent members of the UN Security Council members to bind Ireland’s hands in its international engagement. It is important to emphasise that any legislative proposals will remain fully consistent with the principles of the UN Charter and international law.

This Government has been clear that we will not be changing Ireland’s policy of military neutrality, and the proposed changes, will do nothing to alter or undermine this policy.

It is therefore the Government's view that amending the legislation which governs how we deploy our Defence Forces overseas does not require a national plebiscite.