Committee concerned over timeline on Triple Lock bill

RTÉ News​

22-05-2025

The Oireachtas Committee examining the proposed law to remove the Triple Lock has written to Minister for Defence Simon Harris expressing concerns over the timeline for it to complete its scrutiny of the bill.
The Defence and National Security Committee met today to discuss its approach to the pre-legislative scrutiny of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025.
It is proposed that the committee spends eight weeks examining the bill.
Committee chairperson, Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh, said it was the view of the committee that the timeframe would be too short.
"The significant changes proposed in the bill to Irish Defence Force service outside the State need careful consideration," she said.
"A letter has been sent by the committee chair, expressing our concerns and flagging up the probability of needing additional time to thoroughly assess this legislation and its potential impact."
The committee has identified a number of witnesses.
Next week it will hear from officials from the Department of Defence in a public session.
Ms Conway-Walsh said it was vital that all witnesses had adequate time to make submissions, take questions and discuss the legislation with the committee.
She said she hoped the minister would give his full cooperation and support to enable the committee to fulfil their responsibilities.
The new bill will remove the requirement for UN approval when deploying members of the Defence Forces outside the State when they are serving as part of an International Force.
This force will operate for the purposes of peacekeeping, conflict prevention and strengthening international security consistent with the principles of the United Nations Charter.
The International Forces would be organised by one of the following organisations: the UN, the Organistion for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the EU or any regional arrangement or body that operates in a manner consistent with the UN Charter and international law.
The legislation states that a contingent of the Defence Forces can be dispatched outside the State where there is Government approval along with a resolution passed by the Dáil.
However, a subsequent Dáil resolution is not required when deploying a replacement contingent.