Did You Know?

Ireland has a proud decades-long tradition of neutrality that stretches back generations. This tradition has enabled us to be a respected voice for peace and diplomacy worldwide, playing an important role in conflict resolution, peacekeeping missions under UN mandates, and humanitarian work across the globe. Irish neutrality has overwhelming support from the population—poll after poll shows the vast majority of Irish people value and want to preserve our neutral status.

Our neutrality has allowed Ireland to act as an honest broker in international disputes, to provide peacekeepers who are welcomed rather than feared, and to speak truth to power without being seen as aligned with any military bloc. It has made us safer, not more vulnerable, and has earned us respect and goodwill around the world.

Despite this, the current government plans to undermine this tradition by dismantling the "Triple Lock". They are using their Dáil majority to rush through legislation without a clear mandate from the Irish people and without proper public consultation or scrutiny. This is being done quietly, without the fanfare or public debate such a fundamental change to our foreign policy deserves.

What is the Triple Lock?

The "Triple Lock" is the legal mechanism that protects Irish neutrality in practice. It means that for more than 12 Irish defence personnel to be deployed on any overseas mission, three conditions must be met:

The Triple Lock was enshrined in law and affirmed through solemn legal declarations that were made to secure the ratification of both the Nice Treaty (2002) and the Lisbon Treaty (2009). During those referendum campaigns, the Irish public expressed serious concerns about European militarisation and the potential erosion of Irish neutrality. In response, the government provided legal guarantees—including the Triple Lock—that Ireland's neutrality would be protected.

These weren't casual promises. They were formal legal commitments made to the Irish people in order to secure a 'Yes' vote. Dismantling the Triple Lock now, without holding a further referendum, represents a betrayal of those commitments and of the democratic process itself.

The hypocrisy is striking. Political leaders who once defended the Triple Lock as essential to Irish neutrality are now quietly dismantling it when they think people aren't paying attention.

Why Should You Care?

By removing the requirement for UN authorization, the government is fundamentally changing Ireland's role in the world. Instead of serving international peace under a UN mandate, Irish troops could be deployed in missions serving the strategic interests of powerful military blocs like NATO, or in EU military operations that align with US, UK, and German foreign policy objectives.

This radical change to our foreign policy will have serious consequences:

This isn't a minor procedural change. This is a fundamental transformation of Ireland's place in the world, done quietly and without democratic mandate.

How to Take Action

1. Find your representatives: Look up your TDs and local councillors. You can find their contact information online or through the Oireachtas/Tipperary County Council websites.

2. Contact them directly: Email, call, or write to them. Personal contact is far more effective than social media. Be polite but firm. Tell them:

3. Spread the word: Most people don't know this is happening. Share information with friends, family, colleagues, and on social media. Use #NotInOurChildrensNames

4. Get involved locally: Join your local neutrality network or start one. Attend meetings, help with leafleting, and connect with others who share your concerns.

5. Stay informed: Follow Tipperary Neutrality Network and other neutrality groups for updates, resources, and opportunities to take action.