Brian Stanley Accuses Taoiseach of Betraying Ireland's Neutrality
Brian Stanley challenged the Taoiseach over proposed changes to the triple lock and defended Ireland's military neutrality and peacekeeping role. He accused the Taoiseach of contradicting his 2013 statement and of risking a betrayal of solemn national declarations made during the Nice (2001) and Lisbon (2008) referendums.
Brian Stanley recalled that when the Nice and Lisbon referendums were rejected the government at the time offered a solemn national declaration to the electorate to retain the triple lock and protect neutrality. He quoted the declaration, saying "in line with its traditional policy of military neutrality here, Ireland is not bound by any mutual defence commitments," and asked whether the Taoiseach had forgotten his 2013 remarks.
He insisted that military neutrality remains protected and emphasised Ireland's role as peacekeepers. He stated plainly that Ireland is not a member of NATO and is not militarily aligned, arguing that any change to the triple lock would undermine that position.
Brian Stanley warned the world has changed since 2013 and raised concerns that powerful states could have an effective veto over decisions to send Irish troops. He questioned whether countries such as Russia, the United States and China would be able to block deployments and argued that "Russia should not have a veto over Ireland's decision to participate in peacekeeping."
He directly challenged whether Fianna Fáil would "reject the democratic wishes of the majority of Irish people who want to protect military neutrality," framing the issue as a potential betrayal of what the electorate voted for in those solemn declarations. He urged clarity on whether the government will uphold the triple lock and the commitments made to the public.
Accusation of breaking past commitments
Brian Stanley recalled that when the Nice and Lisbon referendums were rejected the government at the time offered a solemn national declaration to the electorate to retain the triple lock and protect neutrality. He quoted the declaration, saying "in line with its traditional policy of military neutrality here, Ireland is not bound by any mutual defence commitments," and asked whether the Taoiseach had forgotten his 2013 remarks.
Defense of neutrality and peacekeeping
He insisted that military neutrality remains protected and emphasised Ireland's role as peacekeepers. He stated plainly that Ireland is not a member of NATO and is not militarily aligned, arguing that any change to the triple lock would undermine that position.
Concerns about external vetoes on deployments
Brian Stanley warned the world has changed since 2013 and raised concerns that powerful states could have an effective veto over decisions to send Irish troops. He questioned whether countries such as Russia, the United States and China would be able to block deployments and argued that "Russia should not have a veto over Ireland's decision to participate in peacekeeping."
Questions for Fianna Fáil and democratic wishes
He directly challenged whether Fianna Fáil would "reject the democratic wishes of the majority of Irish people who want to protect military neutrality," framing the issue as a potential betrayal of what the electorate voted for in those solemn declarations. He urged clarity on whether the government will uphold the triple lock and the commitments made to the public.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
Other speeches
Tego samego dnia All speeches from this day →
Paul Murphy
Paul Murphy warns AI chatbots must not replace companionship
Paul Murphy
Paul Murphy: Urges Observer as Flotilla Faces Smear Campaign
Rose Conway-Walsh
Rose Conway-Walsh raises Beaumont bed shortage, patient waits
Paul Murphy
Paul Murphy labels Blackwater fish kill an unprecedented ecocide
Victor Boyhan
Victor Boyhan honours Dr Mansell's peace and agricultural legacy
Rose Conway-Walsh
Rose Conway-Walsh on rising home insurance and pyrite scandal
Transcript
Taoiseach, in 2013, you rounded on Fine Gael here in this House over the proposal to change the triple lock. You said, and I quote, that it would damage neutrality, that it would contribute nothing to international peace. When the Nice referendum was rejected in 2001 and Lisbon in 2008, your government, Fianna Fáil, was in power to give a guarantee to the electorate in the form of a solemn national declaration on neutrality and retain the triple lock in order to get both referendums through. And the declaration, one line in it says, and I quote directly, in line with its traditional policy of military neutrality here, Ireland is not bound by any mutual defence commitments. There's the two declarations. And what I ask you, Taoiseach, is this. Have you forgotten what you stated here in 2013? Are you going to betray the electorate? That was a solemn national declaration by the state, by the people of this state, put together by your government, are you going to betray the electorate of that state and what they voted for in those two solemn declarations? And is Fianna Fáil going to reject the democratic wishes of the majority of Irish people who want to protect military neutrality? The military neutrality is protected. We are not members of NATO, we are not militarily aligned. The other second point I would make is this, in terms of the specifics. The world has changed dramatically since 2013. Russia, United States, China have the veto on Irish foreign policy, not foreign policy. Sorry, let me finish, please. Not on foreign policy, but on any decision we would make to send our Irish troops to support. Quite a number of Sinn Féin deputies are asking if we send the Irish Navy out to international waters in the Middle East. That would breach the triple lock. The point is this, that Russia should not have a veto over Ireland's decision to participate in peacekeeping. We are peacekeepers, that is what we have always been, peacekeepers. That is what we want to be in the future. That is our commitment. We, over time, have concluded on questions.