CABINET AGREED TO press ahead with taking steps towards abolishing the Triple Lock, which requires UN approval before Irish troops are sent abroad on peacekeeping missions.

The Defence Amendment Bill which was discussed by ministers today, will provide for the removal of the so-called Triple Lock, which is triggered whenever more than 12 members of the Defence Forces are being deployed outside the State as part of an international force. 

Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee said proposed changes to the legislation will  ensure that overseas deployments continue to be subject to meaningful democratic oversight without undermining operational effectiveness.

Cabinet was told today that the annual report to Dáil Éireann will be strengthened so that it clearly sets out where Irish personnel are deployed, the legal basis for each deployment, and whether each mission continues to meet the purposes set out in law.

McEntee said this will prevent long-running missions from becoming automatic and ensures regular political accountability.

Giving an example, the minister said if Irish troops remain deployed on a UN mission in Lebanon or on a stabilisation mission elsewhere, the annual report would clearly outline the size of the deployment, the mission mandate, changes in the security environment and whether the deployment remains justified.

Independent monitoring

It is understood that McEntee has also instructed officials to examine options for an independent monitoring mechanism to further strengthen governance and public confidence.

She said any such proposal will be developed carefully with the Attorney General and progressed at a later stage of the legislative process.

The government believes this demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement without compromising constitutional integrity.

“We are also strengthening transparency for smaller deployments while preserving the State’s ability to respond quickly in emergencies,” she said. 

Where 50 or fewer Defence Forces personnel are deployed, a formal written notification will also be provided to the relevant Joint Oireachtas Committee.

Larger deployments will continue to require full Dáil approval. The government argues this strikes a practical balance between accountability and operational agility.

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Irish neutrality 

However, Opposition TDs have continuously criticised the move, with some stating that a referendum on neutrality is the best path forward as it would allow the public to have their say on the issue. 

Speaking in the Dáil today, People Before Profit Paul Murphy asked the Taoiseach if the Cabinet agreed this morning to press ahead with abolishing the triple lock without holding a referendum.

“If it did, why is the Taoiseach reneging on the promises he personally made to the Irish people in order to get the Treaties of Nice and Lisbon passed?”

Meanwhile, Social Democrats TD Sinéad Gibney said called for the debate on the issue this week, stating that the government continues to say it supports neutrality while it advancing with its plans to abandon the triple lock, despite multiple polls showing that public “want to protect Irish neutrality”.