Government told to hold vote on Ireland's neutrality, triple lock

Ireland faces growing calls for a vote on military neutrality

Robert Besser
11 Apr 2025, 19:24 GMT+10

Government told to hold vote on Ireland's neutrality, triple lock

Debate over Ireland’s military neutrality is intensifying as the government faces growing pressure to put the issue to a public vote
At the centre of the controversy are proposed reforms to the 'triple lock' system, which governs the deployment of Irish Defence Forces personnel overseas
Defence Minister Simon Harris has insisted that the changes will not alter Ireland’s long-standing policy of military neutrality

DUBLIN, Ireland: Debate over Ireland's military neutrality is intensifying as the government faces growing pressure to put the issue to a public vote.

At the centre of the controversy are proposed reforms to the 'triple lock' system, which governs the deployment of Irish Defence Forces personnel overseas. Defence Minister Simon Harris has insisted that the changes will not alter Ireland's long-standing policy of military neutrality.

Currently, any deployment of more than 12 peacekeeping troops must receive approval from three sources: the Government, the Dail, and the United Nations Security Council. The draft legislation now being considered would raise the deployment threshold to 50 troops.

Despite assurances, opposition voices argue the move undermines Ireland's neutral stance. Sinn Fein TD Donnchadh O Laoghaire has called for a referendum on the matter, warning of the broader implications.

"How we have best been able to exert our influence is as a country that understands the history of colonialism in so many countries around the world," he said.

"As a country that is not part of a military alliance, that sees neutrality as vitally important, that values peace, and can speak out against breaches of human rights by governments and regimes across the world, whether friends or foe, or anything else."

Minister Harris has reiterated that the proposed legislation is focused solely on operational flexibility and does not alter the principle of neutrality.

The question of whether to enshrine neutrality in the Constitution or revisit Ireland's peacekeeping policies through a referendum remains contentious.