CP of Ireland condemns government's decision to abolish Triple Lock

The Irish government has decided to abolish the Triple Lock legal mechanism, which marks a significant departure from the country’s traditional policy of military neutrality. Under the terms of the Triple Lock, the Irish Defence Forces cannot be deployed to a mission that lacks a UN mandate. However, if the legislation passes, the Irish government will be able to send 100 Irish Defence Forces personnel to any illegal war-fighting mission in the world without even a vote in the parliament.

The Communist Party of Ireland’s press organ Socialist Voice issued strong condemnations of the Dublin government's unilateral attempt to abolish the Triple Lock, warning that the move threatens Irish sovereignty and aligns the state with US-led imperialism.

In the article entitled “The Government Moves to End Neutrality”, Fionn Wallace notes that neither Fianna Fáil nor Fine Gael parties included this abolition in their election manifestos, arguing that the government is relying on parliamentary numbers to force the measure through without an electoral mandate. The author calls on the public to take to the streets to save the Triple Lock before the final vote, which may occur before the Christmas break.

In “Neutrality Under Attack: The Triple Lock and the Assault on Irish Sovereignty”, Andrew Reagan argues that the push for militarisation serves the interests of capital and expanding military procurement rather than the genuine security needs of the Irish people.

Both contributors emphasise that the defence of neutrality is inseparable from the defence of Irish sovereignty. Without the UN mandate system, the EU and NATO will dictate where Irish troops are deployed, potentially making the state materially complicit in the Israeli state's actions in Gaza and Lebanon.