29-05-2025
Triple Lock safeguards 'notional', senator tells cttee
The Defence and National Security Committee is debating legislation that would remove the need for UN approval when deploying more than 12 members of the Defence Forces overseas when they are serving as part of an international force.
The General Scheme of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 aims to reform the so-called Triple Lock.
Opposition parties and a number of independent TDs have vowed to fight the bill.
Independent Senator Tom Clonan questioned the wisdom of the proposal.
"By government majority, any future government can send any number of Irish troops to any conflict anywhere in the world," Senator Clonan said.
Bernie Maguire, Assistant Secretary of the Department of Defence, said that for more than 50 troops, Dáil approval would be needed.
Mr Clonan asked whether only "a simple government majority" would be needed. Ms Maguire agreed.
He added that the Government plans to remove the Triple Lock and be in a position to send troops anywhere for any purpose, whether for "peacekeeping, peace enforcement or full combat operations"
"With safeguards built in," Ms Maguire responded.
Mr Clonan said that any safeguards were "notional" and would not exist "in law".
"When you remove the Triple Lock, there is no safeguard in law," he added.
Committee chairperson, Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway-Walsh, noted that she had allowed Senator Clonan extra time as he had raised important matters.
Ms Maguire said that the power currently lies with the "P5", or five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
This is "why there hasn't been any new peacekeeping missions for the last 11 years," she added.
"There is a fear it won't pass," Ms Maguire said, with at least one the permanent members likely to veto any peacekeeping proposal.
Independent TD Brian Stanley asked if, under the Government's proposals, Ireland would be "taking sides in a conflict without UN sanction".
Ms Maguire accepted that "there wouldn't be a UN mandate" but said this does not mean that UN principles would not apply.
If it was an EU mission, she said, "the EU always adhere to international law and the UN charter".
Mr Stanley dismissed a Double Lock, saying that a Dáil majority would "count for nothing. That's window dressing", as any government would have such a majority.
"The legislation as you framed it completely disregards the will of the Irish people," he added.
