The EU recently announced the establishment of a military mission in Lebanon.
If the Triple Lock is ended, the Government has said that it plans to send Irish soldiers as part of the EU military mission in Lebanon..
This EU mission does not have a UN mandate.
People Before Profit’s Paul Murphy TD said:
“Former President Michael D Higgins’ was correct when he said recently that the government is not being honest and he’s also correct when he says that the removal of the Triple Lock is a preparatory move towards a military alliance.
“The Government is trying to redefine neutrality to just mean not joining NATO, while at the same time it is preparing to send Irish soldiers to Lebanon as part of an EU military mission. So it's very clear that ending the Triple Lock, as Michael D said, is a preparatory move towards a military alliance.
“It’s also clear that the Government is not being honest because its own legislation to end the Triple Lock states that it will enable ‘peace enforcement’. But the Government knows that the UN Charter, which the Government claims it will comply with, makes it clear that enforcement without UN endorsement is illegal under international law.
“The Government is preparing the legislative ground to send young people abroad to fight in imperialist wars. If they get away with ending the Triple Lock, sending soldiers to Lebanon on the same side as Israel against Hezbollah will just be the start.
“The Government has no mandate to end the Triple Lock and a majority of the public oppose ending it. The Government must put it to the people in a referendum”.