Councillors pass motion on Triple Lock issue

A counter motion on the Triple Lock was carried at the April plenary meeting of Roscommon County Council.

In Ireland, the Triple Lock refers to the requirement that three separate approvals are needed before Irish troops can be deployed overseas. It involves UN approval, a decision by Government and a vote in the Dáil.

A motion to protect the Triple Lock was initially tabled at the council meeting by Sinn Féin councillor Leah Cull and supported by councillors Nigel Dineen and Tony Ward.

Cllr Cull’s motion read as follows: “This council expresses dismay at and opposition to government plans to abolish the Triple Lock. The Triple Lock means that for more than 12 troops to deploy on overseas missions there must be approval from: 1. Cabinet 2. Dáil Éireann and 3. the mission must have a UN mandate.

“It was introduced during the Nice Treaty and commitments to it were reaffirmed during Lisbon to safeguard neutrality and keep Ireland out of illegal wars. This council rejects government plans to abolish the Triple Lock, which would signify a breach of trust with the electorate and a serious diminution of neutrality.”

A countermotion by Fianna Fáil councillor John Keogh was carried by a majority vote. Cllr Keogh’s countermotion read as follow: “That this council, mindful of Article 29 of Bunreacht na hÉireann and Ireland’s devotion to ‘peace and friendly co-operation amongst nations’, ‘the pacific settlement of international disputes’ and ‘the generally recognised principles of international law’, reaffirms Ireland’s long-standing policy of military neutrality and opposition to military alliances, while supporting full democratic oversight and Ireland’s sovereign ability, in accordance with international law, to deploy Defence Forces personnel on peacekeeping, humanitarian, civilian protection and evacuation missions in the interests of global peace, in line with the long standing principles of the United Nations”.