Tanaiste provides Cabinet update on changes to the 'Triple Lock'
Tánaiste and Defence Minister Simon Harris updated Cabinet on the progress of the General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 on Tuesday.
This will "reform the triple lock and reinforce Ireland's ability to pursue an independent foreign policy".
The Triple Lock requires three stages of approval to allow Defence Forces personnel to travel overseas on peacekeeping missions.
This includes Government approval, Dáil approval and UN approval. However, the Government is seeking to remove the United Nations' approval, arguing that permanent members of the UN Security Council, including China and Russia, could veto the deployment of Irish troops on missions.
Mr Harris told Cabinet that the general scheme of the Bill to change the legislation will be published later this week.
The Tánaiste then intends to write to the chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Defence and National Security to request consideration of the Heads of Bill as contained in the General Scheme and a decision on whether pre-legislative scrutiny is appropriate in this case.
If pre-legislative scrutiny is to progress, he will ask that the committee treat the matter as a priority.
A spokesman for the Tánaiste said it is hoped that pre-legislative scrutiny could be completed before the Dáil rises for its summer recess in mid-July.
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