Actor Liam Cunningham accuses Government of ‘siding with warmongers'
The Government is 'siding with warmongers', Game Of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham has said, as he endorsed an opposition campaign to 'defend Irish neutrality'.
Cunningham was speaking at the launch of a new People Before Profit pamphlet, No To War – Defend Irish Neutrality, which is published in opposition to Government plans to change the triple lock system for overseas deployments.
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Under the current system, Ireland cannot deploy any more than 12 Defence Forces peacekeepers overseas without a mission being approved by the UN, as well as approval by the Government and the Dail.
As part of the draft legislation being advanced by the Government, it is proposed to remove the requirement for formal UN approval and replace it with a stipulation that the deployments are in accordance with the UN Charter.
The Government argues that this will prevent the five permanent members of the Security Council – Russia, China, the UK, the US and France – from exercising their veto against Irish peacekeeping missions.
However, Cunningham accused the Government of 'lying' and 'obfuscation' over the mechanics of the existing triple lock, adding that the current system allows the UN General Assembly to approve such a mission in the absence of a green light from the Security Council.
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'They're scraping the barrel, lying to people,' he said.
Speaking at Buswells Hotel across the road from Leinster House, he added: 'The vast majority of people are disgusted with what's going on, disgusted with our neutrality being diluted.
'And the people in power that we entrusted with the health of our democracy are siding with warmongers.
'That's why I'm here. I do not want to see this country that I adore being sold down the swanny so the boys across the road here can have their jobs with whatever commission or whatever when they're finally extricated from Government.'
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Speaking at the same event, People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Paul Murphy said: 'We're involved in an almighty fight to defend neutrality. We don't think it's a lost fight, we don't think it's guaranteed that the Government will get through their legislation to get rid of the triple lock.'
The Bill also includes draft proposals to amend provisions relating to the deployment of Defence Forces personnel in non-combatant evacuation operations, and it is proposed to increase the number of troops who can be sent abroad without any 'lock' from 12 to 50.
Critics see the moves as an effort to remove the core protections of the triple lock, erode Irish neutrality and practically align with Nato.
Mr Murphy said: 'There were some politicians from Fianna Fail and Fine Gael at the [defence] committee last week who said 'this is about trusting future governments to send troops abroad wherever they want'.
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'Well, I don't trust Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to send troops abroad wherever they want, I think the majority of people in this country don't.'
In reference to a Fine Gael policy document from 2003 which he said described the triple lock as a straitjacket, he added: 'I precisely want to tie their hands, I want to have a political straitjacket.
'I want to know in future that they will not be able to send troops abroad unless they are genuine peacekeeping missions – and that's what triple lock guarantees, and that's what the Government is trying to get rid of.'
Cunningham said the public should 'fight tooth and nail' to retain the triple lock, arguing that the Government should put the matter to the public in a vote.
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'We all know what the result would be, it would be laughed out of this country that they even attempted to dilute the triple lock.'
Cunningham said he had recently assisted in the launching of the sailing boat Madleen – operated by activist group Freedom Flotilla Coalition – which is en route to Gaza from Sicily.
He said the organisation's previous attempt to reach Gaza saw a different boat being attacked by drones.
He said the current vessel is carrying humanitarian aid including crutches, antibiotics, baby formula and a 3D-printed prosthetic baby's arm.
Cunningham described the 12 people on board – a four-person crew and eight volunteers – as 'remarkable'.
He said: 'If we were doing our job properly, there should be an Irish naval vessel carrying this humanitarian aid, because that is our duty – not only morally but also under international law.'
He added that there should be a European force encircling the boat to ensure it reaches its destination.
Meanwhile, the Government is proceeding with legislation to ban the trade of goods with Palestinian lands illegally occupied by Israeli settlements.
Asked for his opinion on the Government's approach, Cunningham said: 'If the Occupied Territories Bill comes in and services are not on it, then forget about it.
Ireland
'Hands off Irish neutrality': Opposition pushes ba...
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'It's a waste of time, it's just tinsel.'
He added: 'We need to start the ball rolling. If we do it, other countries will follow.
'Everybody's afraid to take the first step and we need to have the balls to do it.'
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