Triple lock amendment to be published by September at latest – Martin

By Gráinne Ní Aodha, PA

Proposals to change Ireland’s three-part system to send Irish soldiers on peacekeeping missions will be published by September at the latest.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin received Cabinet approval in April to amend Ireland’s triple-lock system.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence told an Oireachtas committee on Tuesday: “The legislation is being prepared at the moment, I can’t give you a timeline, I doubt it will be in before the (summer) recess.

“We’re still engaging with the (Attorney General), other the government departments, key stakeholders.”

The Tánaiste said they may have the legislation ready before the Dáil recess next Thursday, or by the end of July, but if not, it would be the first week of September.

He said pre-legislative scrutiny of the amendment by the foreign affairs committee would be required.

Opposition politicians have expressed concerns that the change could threaten Ireland’s neutrality.

The triple lock is a way of approving the deployment of Irish troops on peacekeeping missions abroad, requiring the approval of the Government, the Dáil, and the UN Security Council.

Mr Martin said Ireland was conscious that no peacekeeping mission had been approved by the UN since 2014.

Five permanent members of the Security Council – the US, Russia, China, France and the UK – have a veto on proposals, including on whether Ireland can deploy peacekeepers on UN missions.

Mr Martin has said previously it was “morally wrong” that Russia can veto the deployment of Irish troops abroad.

“What we would propose into the future is that in the amendment to the triple lock,” he said.

“We would still frame it within a UN framework, in the context of the UN Charter and the principles of the UN, and the various chapters of the UN framework governing deployments.”

He suggested that the triple lock amendment would still require the approval of the Irish government and the Dail.

“I would have to reassert the point that there is no connection between the triple lock and our military neutrality,” he told the committee.

“Our military neutrality is that we are not members of a military alliance, we have no plans to be a member of military alliance.”

Mr Martin also spoke about Ireland’s proposed involvement in three permanent structured cooperation (Pesco) projects, as well as changes to Ireland’s triple lock system.

The Tánaiste said the first involves becoming a member of a logistic hub where the Defence Forces can store equipment on the continent; the second involves defending “critical” seabed infrastructure; and the third is training on energy management systems, which includes on-site visits.

The Dáil is asked to approve Irish soldiers’ involvements in Pesco projects.

Ireland is currently taking part in four such projects, which Mr Martin said was low compared to other EU countries.