Neutrality and Triple Lock: Motion [Private Members]
Dail Éireann — 2026-09-16
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Seamus Healy (IND), Tipperary South

I welcome and support this motion brought forward by Sinn Féin in support of the triple lock and neutrality. There are no Fianna Fáil TDs here, but the fact of the matter is that Fianna Fáil TDs have the power to stop the abolition of the triple lock. The triple lock is Fianna Fáil. The triple lock is Fianna Fáil history. Éamon de Valera, a founder member of Fianna Fáil, a Fianna Fáil Taoiseach and a Fianna Fáil President put "the [peaceful] settlement of international disputes by international arbitration or judicial determination" into Article 29 of Bunreacht na hÉireann. Éamon de Valera declared Irish neutrality in 1939. Bertie Ahern, a Fianna Fáil Taoiseach, put the triple lock into the Nice II treaty. Brian Cowen, a Fianna Fáil Taoiseach, put the triple lock into the Lisbon II treaty. Bertie Ahern now says he is opposed to the abolition of the triple lock. Éamon Ó Cuív, a former Fianna Fáil Minister and a former deputy leader of Fianna Fáil, says he is opposed to the abolition of the triple lock. Willie O'Dea, a former Fianna Fáil Minister, says he is opposed to the abolition of the triple lock. I am told that 20 Fianna Fáil TDs say they are opposed to the abolition of the triple lock. Even the current Taoiseach said in 2013 that the triple lock is "the core of [Irish] neutrality". Are Fianna Fáil TDs going to stand up and be counted? Are they going to stand up for their own history? Are Fianna Fáil TDs going to decide if the triple lock stays or goes? They have the power to do that. Remember, the triple lock has been endorsed by the sovereign Irish people in two referendums and has been included as a solemn declaration in the Nice and Lisbon treaties. The triple lock has served us well. I call on all Fianna Fáil TDs to come into this House next week - they have a week to mull over this - and vote against the Government countermotion. They will be voting for Fianna Fáil history if they do so.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-09-16/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-28T05:50:48+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-16