Dáil vote to amend the Triple Lock mechanism
A PROPOSAL by the government to amend the triple lock mechanism has been voted through the Dáil, which will remove the need for UN approval when deploying troops abroad.
The Defence (Amendment) Bill passed by 79 votes to 71 votes following a debate in Dáil Éireann yesterday afternoon. Minister for Defence, Helen McEntee, said that the amendments put forward in the proposed legislation are “necessary if we want to ensure that as a sovereign country, we have the independence and the ability to make our own decisions about where we deploy our troops”.
Opposition parties have strongly criticised the legislation, claiming that the government has no mandate to remove the triple lock. Sinéad Gibney TD, Defence Spokesperson for the Social Democrats, says the removal of the triple lock represents “an existential attack on Irish neutrality”.
Deputy Gibney was also critical of the government’s decision to place a time limit on the debate, which was held to just under four hours, claiming that “guillotining today’s debate is highly disrespectful of public sentiment on this issue”.
During the Leaders’ Questions before the debate began, Sinn Féin leader, Mary Lou McDonald, again called on the government to put this legislation to referendum, saying, “the consequences of the legislation, if passed, cannot be underestimated”.
The legislation is expected to become active by Christmas.