Any Irish military involvement in troublespots around the world will continue to need the approval of the Government, Dail and the United Nations, it was confirmed tonight.
The Minister for Defence, Mr O'Dea said the Government was determined to preserve Ireland's neutral status regardless of any outside pressures.
"There has been some public comment over the past few days criticising the triple-lock approach," he said.
"Which element of this triple-lock do they suggest we unpick? Would they wish us to dispense with the UN authorisation? Or, would they prefer we ignore the wishes of the Government or the Oireachtas?
"I want to make it absolutely clear again today: In any consideration of Irish troops acting overseas that this Government will not allow our policy of military neutrality to be eroded. The triple-lock will remain.
"Ireland will only participate in military activity overseas with Government, Dáil and UN authorisation."
Mr O'Dea also insisted the Government would continue to approach any proposed mission on a case-by-case basis.
As he reviewed the 29th infantry group at Custume Barracks, Athlone, who are about to depart on a NATO-led peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, Mr O'Dea hit out at some of his political opponents.
"I was deeply disappointed to see that Fine Gael's new Defence spokesperson, Billy Timmons TD, is carrying on the creeping erosion of military neutrality of his predecessors," he said.
"One of Deputy Timmons' first actions upon appointment was to call on me to `abandon the so-called `triple lock' mechanism, which he alleges is excessively restrictive."
He added: "I regret to inform Deputy Timmons and others in Fine Gael that I won't be accepting their advice on this matter, just as I won't be heeding them on a number of other issues as well."
PA