LAST UPDATE | 23 Jun

THE TAOISEACH HAS ruled out holding a referendum on getting rid of the triple lock, despite a number of his own party not being happy with him about the move.

Micheál Martin said on Tuesday that the Dáil should legislate on the triple lock, explaining that he was broadly against having referendums that are beyond “amending or deleting” items in the constitution.

Martin’s parliamentary party will discuss the issue this week after up to 20 of its backbenchers signed a letter which argues that the plan to scrap the triple lock represents a “fundamental change” in Fianna Fáil policy.

The triple lock requires overseas peacekeeping missions involving more than 12 Irish troops to receive approval from the United Nations (UN), the government and the Dáil before they can proceed.

Under the proposed changes, the requirement for one leg of this approval process – the UN Security Council – for these peacekeeping missions would be removed.

Speaking on Tuesday morning to reporters outside Government Buildings, Martin rejected suggestions that a vote could be held on the removal of the mechanism and reiterated that the move would not impact Irish neutrality.

He said this Ireland is “not Switzerland”, referring to that state’s preference for holding regular plebiscites on important issues, such as a recent move to cap its population level.

“As a parliamentarian for quite a number of years, I would not be in favour of having referendums outside the normal referendums that we’ve had to date,” he said.

“We have a parliamentary democracy and should legislate on issues that are on which we’re democratically elected.”

When asked by reporters about unhappiness among his own TDs, Martin said “people are entitled to raise issues” but said that the plans to reform the triple lock have been flagged for the past three years.

“Going back to 2023, we’ve been advocating for reform of the triple lock,” Martin added.

“It’s in the party manifesto for the last general election, it’s in the programme for government.”

Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers today denied that the decision to remove the triple lock is a departure from Fianna Fáil policy. 

“No, absolutely not,” he responded. 

The reforming of the triple lock was in the party’s manifesto, he said, stating that it is also contained in the programme for government. 

“We welcome broad debate within our parliamentary party around the specific reforms which are being advanced in the context of the legislation,” he said, speaking about a party meeting tonight in which the triple lock is being discussed.

Chambers said we don’t want “another major superpower” in the UN being able to veto what Ireland does in the context of deploying troops. 

“I think it’s an important reform,” Chambers told reporters today in Dublin. 

The minister also said he didn’t believe the backbenchers in his party who are against the triple lock removal are trying to undermine the party leadership. 

“I don’t think so,” he said, reiterating that having a debate within the party is important, but he said the decision to legislate to remove the mechanism is based “very much on an informed policy position” based on the changing position of geopolitics. 

While some backbenchers are expected to voice their concerns at today’s parliamentary party meeting, one minister said the number in favour of removing the triple lock will outweight those who are against it. 

With reporting by Sophie Finn and Christina Finn