Paul Murphy: Defends Triple Lock, Says Fine Gael Eroding Neutrality
Paul Murphy criticised the minister's suggestion to move away from the triple lock, arguing Fine Gael have long sought to erode Ireland's neutrality and are using the invasion of Ukraine as cover. He stated he does not believe the triple lock should be removed and called for a citizens' assembly to discuss defence and peacekeeping decisions.
Triple lock and party history
Paul Murphy said Fine Gael have pushed for abandoning the triple lock for decades, pointing to a 2003 policy document called Beyond Neutrality that supported participation in a common EU defence policy and described the triple lock as a "political straitjacket." He accused the party of opportunistically using the Russian invasion of Ukraine to press for change.
Question to the Taoiseach on procedures
He challenged the Taoiseach to clarify whether he supports retention of the triple lock, noting the relevance of the UN Security Council rather than the General Assembly for authorising peacekeeping missions and asking whether a referendum would be offered if the triple lock were removed.
Cost of living, windfalls and energy policy
Murphy addressed the Government's cost of living package and the planned windfall arrangements, saying measures are designed to avoid windfall gains from price increases. He warned against a cap on pre-2021 prices, citing what he described as damaging fiscal and market consequences in the United Kingdom when that approach was tried. He also noted the complexity of EU energy measures, Ireland's gas imports from the UK and Norway, and welcomed moves to decouple gas from electricity price rises.
COP27 and climate adaptation needs
Reflecting on COP27, he highlighted testimony from Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka and small island states about immediate climate devastation - crop and arable land loss, disease from stagnant water and mass displacement. He argued Ireland must focus on adaptation measures, including coastal erosion preparation and wider damage mitigation.
Palestine support and affirmation of neutrality
Murphy said the EU and Ireland have done significant work supporting Palestine and agencies such as UNRWA with humanitarian assistance. He reiterated that Ireland is not a member of NATO and that military neutrality remains the country's consistent position.
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Paul Murph. Teachta, Minister Simon Coveney has said that moving away from the triple lock would be, quote, a sensible change. He and Fine Gael claim that this is in response to Putin's disgusting invasion of Ukraine. But the truth is that Fine Gael have been pushing for this for decades. You can go back to 2003. They had a policy document called Beyond Neutrality, which supported moving towards participation in a common EU defence policy, abandoning the triple lock, describing it as a political straitjacket. Fine Gael have been trying to erode what is left of neutrality for decades and are opportunistically using Putin's evasion of Ukraine to do so. Minister Ryan, in fairness, has at least come out to say that his position as the triple lock should remain. What is your position, Taoiseach? You did not answer the question earlier. You made a vague reference to the UN General Assembly, but it is the UN Security Council which agrees towards the deployment of peacekeeping missions. Do you really support the retention of the triple lock or do you not? N Carolyn Alisbury with the National Security Council or in response to you, if you do not, but would you at least give us a referendum if the planet? Thank you the máquевич Prime Minister. In terms of Deputy Rose-Conwey is under today's alternative by Gandalf Rirámw bits of solidarity tax into the Government in relation to giust the Security Council today, which applies us domestically here, particularly in respect to the Corrib fil. It is designed really to make sure there are no windfall benefits arising out of the increased prices that have occurred. I think the Government has taken the right overall policy in respect to the cost of living package. I know your party proposed a cap on pre-21 levels, but we saw what happened to the United Kingdom fiscally and from a market point of view when that proposal was implemented by the UK Government. It had fairly devastating consequences for the UK economy and that is why the Government did not go down that route in respect of the measures that we took. In terms of the wider windfall, that will come later as well as part of the European measures. The broader European measures will fall due to be completed, but it is very, very complex in terms of the EU energy market. We import most of our gas from the UK and Norway supplies in there, so it is not a uniform gas market. We welcome the decisions taken to try and decouple gas from the electricity price increases. Deputy Hawi raised the issue in terms of climate justice and COP27. Generally, I think one of the key takeaways from COP has been the fact that climate change is here now in terms of the worldwide devastation. The presentation of the Prime Minister from Pakistan at two events that I was at, one third of all crops are arable land destroyed by the floods. Huge disease coming from stagnant water across Pakistan. Hundreds of thousands of pregnant women without homes and without shelter, just over 600,000. Huge economic damage, about 30 billion in terms of damage and reconstruction. Look at Somalia's presentation, Sri Lanka's presentation, all the small states, the small island states of the Pacific facing real danger. So, if there are some lessons for this country, I think we have to do more on adaptation and we have to do more, not just in terms of getting emissions down, but we have to prepare around coastal erosion and we have to prepare a whole range of measures to deal with damage. We are out of time. In terms of Deputy Barrett, no one has done more than the EU and Ireland in terms of supporting Palestine, UNRWA and a whole range of humanitarian supports. That has to be said. That rarely gets said. I have dealt with the triple lock already. It is not in the problem for Government to remove the triple lock. I do not believe in removing the triple lock. I do believe we should have a citizens' assembly to discuss all of these issues in a more informed way. I have said that already. I understand the rationale put forward by Minister Kovny in the light of the Russian invasion and Russia's behaviour. That Russia is such a significant member of the Security Council is now a problem and that the likes of Russia can veto any proposal to the Security Council, such as the one that Ireland put forward in terms of climate and security, was very retrograde in my view. There is a problem there. Thank you. We cannot be putting our heads in the sand. Deputy Rappel, please. Deputy Rappel, please. Deputy Rappel, I think I have dealt with some of the issues. There is a cohesive approach to Ukraine from Europe and on COP. We would like it to be better and stronger, but COP is the only game in town, so to speak. It brings the leaders together, and we need to keep that momentum going. Finally, Deputy Murray, Ireland is not a member of NATO, we are not a member of a military alliance. That is the definition of our military neutrality, which has been consistent and remains the position. Thank you. Thank you.
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