Ireland is outsourcing a significant amount of foreign policy thanks to the ‘triple lock’ policy, Cathal Berry has warned.
The Independent TD for Kildare-South has said Ireland’s military policy is giving major say to international institutions such as the United Nations.
The triple lock policy states that Ireland cannot deploy more than 12 military troops abroad without approval from the Government, the Dáil and the United Nations.
This policy will be examined and debated at this summer’s National Consultative Forum on Ireland’s security policy.
Deputy Berry told The Pat Kenny Show that Ireland is “outsourcing significant Irish foreign policy” as a result.
“If it goes to the UN, it has to go to the Kremlin, it has to go to Beijing,” he said, “It has to go to our former colonial masters in Number 10 Downing Street.”
Ireland is imposing “housekeeping rules” on itself through this unique policy, according to Mr Berry.
He said Ireland faced difficulties when trying to extract over 100 Irish citizens from Afghanistan in 2021 due to the ceiling on troops.
“I don’t know any other country that has the triple lock,” he said.
Double lock
Mr Berry said he would be in favour of replacing the triple lock with a ‘double lock’ whereby both Government and Dáil approval are necessary to deploy Irish troops.
He said Ireland can make decisions independently now that we have multi-party Governments.
“Even if within the first lock itself there are better control mechanisms,” Deputy Berry said.
“You might say the decision-making process is slower, but it’s better decision-making.”
Improved Oireachtas structures would give Ireland more sovereignty, according to Mr Berry.
Neutrality
Deputy Berry told the show that Ireland needs to be more self-sufficient before we discuss changing neutrality policies.
“Before we have a discussion in relation to how we interact internationally, we really need to sort out our own house first.”
Ireland does not have the means to police our own air space, territorial waters or landmass, according to Mr Berry.
He said that neutrality has still served Ireland well in international relations.
“It allows us to cooperate extensively with our neighbours and partners on a case-by-case basis.”
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