Dublin MEP Barry Andrews has welcomed the Tánaiste’s moves to scrap the outdated Triple Lock system, saying it is essential that Ireland has full control over any decisions to send Irish troops abroad.
“I do not see any circumstances in which any of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council should continue to enjoy a veto over our defence and foreign policy decisions,” said MEP Andrews.
“Ireland is a sovereign state and has the right to make decisions about where to send its soldiers. Presidents Putin, Xi Jinping, and potentially Trump, should not have a veto over the Irish Government. We must give ourselves the flexibility to deploy our peacekeepers wherever we want, whenever we want.
“The triple lock approach has not been fit for purpose for a number of years. The UN Security Council has failed to approve a single new peacekeeping mission in over a decade, and in an era of increased geopolitical competition, it seems unlikely that new missions will be approved any time soon.
“Peacekeeping and humanitarian efforts are at the core of the international reputation of the Irish Defence Forces. We should be incredibly proud of the reputation of the Irish Defence Forces around the world. Today’s decision will not change this reputation, contrary to what some commentators would have you believe.”
ENDS
