Sinn Féin spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Defence, Matt Carthy TD, has said the Taoiseach’s stated intention of speedily jettisoning the triple lock neutrality protection is ‘reckless in the extreme and will undermine Ireland’s ability to play a constructive role in the world’.

Carthy added that the government has no mandate to proceed on this basis and rather than undermining Irish neutrality, the Taoiseach should prioritise the rebuilding of the Defence Forces following years of decline under Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments.

Teachta Carthy said:

“Irish neutrality, and having an independent foreign policy, is a strength. It is valued and supported by the Irish people. On the international stage, neutrality has underpinned our contribution to peacekeeping and diplomacy. It has never been a weakness.

“The Tánaiste’s proposals to abandon the triple-lock neutrality protection breaches multiple commitments given to the Irish people, particularly during the Nice and Lisbon EU referenda. It represents a fundamental and negative shift in Irish foreign policy.

“With both the Fianna Fáil 2020 General Election Manifesto and the Programme for Government clearly committed to the retention of the triple lock, the government has no mandate to abandon this core policy that underpins Irish neutrality.

“In fact, even the Chairs Report of the Tánaiste’s so-called Consultative Forum found that there was ‘no public appetite for a change to the current position on neutrality’.

“Ireland’s Neutrality and Independent Foreign Policy have served us well, we cannot allow Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael or the Green Party to cast it aside. If the government is determined to proceed then the least they should do is allow the people to decide in a referendum.

“What Micheál Martin and Simon Harris are trying to do is to change the proud role of Irish troops from peacekeepers to conflict participants. They should spell out where they intend to deploy Irish troops without a UN mandate.

“Rather than undermining Irish Neutrality the Taoiseach should prioritise the rebuilding of our Defence Forces following years of decline under successive Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments.”