Triple lock and neutrality

Sir, – The legislative change to the triple-lock mechanism for deploying Irish military personnel abroad, proposed by Tánaiste Micheál Martin, will mean a distancing of Ireland from the peacekeeping structures of the UN (“Plan to end UN veto on Irish troop deployment”, April 30th). This decision plainly undermines the role and reputation of the UN as an international peacekeeper.

There can be no doubt that the UN Security Council – and its permanent members, in particular – is a problem and deep reform of the structures of the UN is badly needed. The most egregious example of these issues in recent times has been the repeated deployment by the US of its veto to block resolutions calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. However, rather than insisting on such reform, the Irish Government has arguably taken advantage of a problem that has existed for decades to shift this State closer to emerging EU military structures. We are told that the ending of the existing triple lock will not affect Irish military neutrality, but it is impossible not to feel that the stage is being set. In an Irish Times news report in February, highlighting the existence of a new agreement between Nato and Ireland, you noted that Irish Government sources insisted that was not a step towards full membership of the Nato military alliance (“Ireland-Nato agreement to counter Russia threat”, News, February 9th). However, Ireland’s involvement with the Individual Tailored Partnership Programme (ITPP) is meant to bring the Army and Naval Service into a closer operational relationship with Nato. As your report stated, the central objective is “improving Irish military preparedness” within a Nato framework. And it is always worth remembering that Ireland does not have to be a full member of a particular military alliance in order to be within its camp.

This refined cooperation with Nato is happening as the triple lock is being unpicked.

It feels as if the ducks are being gradually shuffled into a row. – Yours, etc,