06.05.2026.
. Photo Shows : Members of the Defence Forces at the annual state 1916 Commemoration, in Arbour hill. Photo: Sam Boal/Collins Photos
Legislation that will scrap Ireland’s triple lock is set to be approved by the Government today and is expected to be enacted by the end of this year.
Defence Minister Helen McEntee will bring the Defence (Amendment) Bill to Cabinet for approval today. The legislation will scrap the triple lock, which currently requires approval from the Government, the Dáil and the United Nations to send members of the Defence Forces overseas for missions.
The move has sparked fierce political debate, with opposition parties slamming the removal as a threat to Ireland’s military neutrality. President Catherine Connolly – who will be required to sign the Bill into law – has previously said it’s “at the core” of Irish neutrality.
During her presidential campaign, President Connolly said if she was elected she would “take expert advice” from her Council of State over the legislation, and the only option open to her would be to refer it to the Supreme Court.
Under the new Bill, a mandate from the UN Security Council will no longer be required. Government approval and a resolution passed by the Dáil will remain. However, a Dáil resolution would not be needed when the Defence Forces is deploying 50 members or less overseas.
It’s a major change to the country’s foreign policy. The mechanism was put in place in 2001 when the first Nice referendum was defeated as voters were concerned Ireland would have to join a future European army.
With the triple lock enacted, the public were less concerned that the Nice Treaty would threaten Ireland’s neutrality and a second referendum was passed the following year. Minister McEntee will tell her Cabinet colleagues today that she believes the current system needs to be reformed so Ireland isn’t restrained from overseas missions.
Helen McEntee TD(Image: Sam Boal/Collins Photos)
She will note Ireland’s recent withdrawal from Operation IRINI, the EU naval mission responsible for enforcing the UN arms embargo on Libya. The Defence Minister previously said it was a matter of “deep regret” that this country had to withdraw following the lapse of the UN Security Council mandate underpinning the mission.
She hopes the new legislation will avoid situations where other states can prevent Ireland’s participation in international peace support operations.
Under the triple lock system, permanent members of the UN Security Council have the power to veto Ireland’s participation in missions. This includes China, France, Russia, the UK and the US.
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