Sir, it is erroneous for Roger Cole to assert that the triple lock had the backing of all three government parties in their election manifestos during the previous elections, as averred in his letter of May 4th. Rather, Fine Gael did not extend any such promise in their 2020 manifesto. Instead, they pledged to conduct a comprehensive reappraisal of Irish defence policies, while still adhering to our military non-alignment stance.
What is undoubtedly accurate is that all three parties did agree to preserve the nonsensical ‘triple lock’ in the 2020 Government Programme. However, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party have since recognised the impracticality of maintaining this policy in our increasingly volatile international context. They have realised the absurdity of allowing countries like Russia and China, via their veto power in the United Nations Security Council, to wield more influence over the deployment of Irish troops than either the Irish Government or the Dáil.
Such an arrangement may be endorsed by factions such as Mr Cole’s, who unashamedly exhibit ambivalence towards these criminal regimes, but it has no place in a mature, sovereign democracy.
Yours sincerely,
BARRY WALSH,
Clontarf,
Dublin 3.
Sir,
Roger Cole, the Peace & Neutrality Alliance’s head, criticises the Government for allegedly damaging Irish neutrality by reneging on the triple lock, despite previously promising its maintenance in their election manifestos. Let me remind Mr Cole that these manifestos were compiled before the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Therefore, retaining the triple lock would effectively perpetuate Russia’s veto over the deployment of Irish soldiers.
Moreover, I’d like to clarify to Mr Cole that the abrogation of the triple lock would, in no way, encroach upon Ireland’s neutrality.
Yours faithfully,
GARY DOYLE,
Straffan,
Co Kildare.