I the undersigned demand the retention of the Triple Lock and Irish Neutrality as a core element of Irish foreign policy.
Ireland has a proud history of neutrality. Our record of our own peace process, our role in UN peacekeeping, our campaign for nuclear non-proliferation, to support for decolonisation, our missionaries helping all around the world, has given us an internationally-recognised reputation of an honest broker.
Irish neutrality is a foreign policy tradition stretching back over centuries. Irish political leaders from Theobald Wolfe Tone, Daniel O’Connell to James Connolly have advocated for neutrality to strengthen Irish independence and self-determination and prevent militarism.
We should be using that record as a catalyst for peace. We should be actively neutral.
Small countries have been sceptical of the intentions of military blocks. Military blocks develop their military actions around their own national interest, their own economic objectives.
The Triple Lock was central to the passing of the second Nice Treaty referendum. It has a democratic mandate.
Many within the EU are pushing hard for the development of an EU Defence Union and ultimately an EU army. The Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Independent Government seek to delete the triple lock to facilitate participation in these plans.
Listen to Paul Lawless TD on the history and reasons behind the Triple Lock.
