Major war of words ensues as Waterford councillors vote on Triple Lock

A major war of words broke out between Waterford councillors before they voted on a motion opposing the abolition of the Triple Lock.

The motion was brought forward by Sinn Féin councillors at the January plenary meeting of Waterford City and County Council.

It read as follows: “This council expresses its dismay at and opposition to the Government's intention to abolish the Triple Lock, which governs the deployment of Irish Defence Forces personnel overseas.

“The Triple Lock has ensured that Ireland's participation in overseas missions (with more than 12 defence personnel) would always require approval from: 1. the Cabinet 2. Dáil Éireann and 3. that the mission they are being deployed on would have a UN mandate either from the Security Council or the General Assembly.

“In 2001, the Irish people rejected the Nice Treaty over concerns that it would drag Ireland into EU military structures that would threaten our neutrality.

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“To get the electorate to approve the EU Treaty, the Government with the agreement of the other EU Member States, through a ‘solemn declaration’, introduced the Triple Lock. This Declaration was reiterated following initial rejection of the subsequent Lisbon Treaty.

“Therefore, this Council rejects Government's plans to abolish or amend the Triple Lock, considering the proposal signifies a breach of trust with the Irish electorate and a serious diminution of Irish neutrality.”

However, before the motion could be formally proposed, Fianna Fáil councillor Eamon Quinlan raised a point of order.

Cllr Quinlan said that the first and last paragraphs of the motion contradict each other, with the last paragraph suggesting the Government could look to amend rather than abolish the Triple Lock.

He also argued that the UN General Assembly, which is mentioned in the motion, has no say in the deployment of peacekeeping troops.

Cllr Quinlan said that he was “pro-neutrality” but that he couldn’t vote for the amendment, given its wording.

He requested that the Sinn Féin councillors withdraw the motion and amend it.

However, the Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr Seamus Ryan, said that he had spoken to Cllr Joeanne Bailey before the meeting and she was happy to proceed with the vote.

Cllr Bailey said that the motion had passed through many other local authorities across the country and that she wanted to go ahead with the vote.

She then formally proposed the motion, stating: “Sinn Féin will oppose any attempts by Government to undermine our neutrality.”

“The reality is that if the Triple Lock is removed, Irish troops can be deployed anywhere, abandoning our neutrality, provided the government of the day has the Dáil majority.

“Irish peacekeepers have got a very proud name for generations under the UN flag. The Triple Lock is the last protection our defence force personnel, our loved ones, our children have in not being involved in wars that don’t concern us.

“We don’t want blood on our hands. As a mother, I don’t want to see my son fighting in a war that has nothing to do with us and I hope the council will support this motion.”

At that point, Fianna Fáil councillor Jason Murphy asked to speak and a shouting match ensued.

Mayor Ryan struggled to reduce the noise levels as tensions boiled over between Cllr Quinlan and Cllr Pat Fitzgerald.

When things finally settled, Cllr Murphy said that he believed the motion was incorrect with regards to its stance on the Triple Lock.

He stated: “The Triple Lock was actually introduced in 1960 as part of the Defence Act to allow Irish troops to serve in the Congo, one of the first missions under the UN.

“Our neutrality has nothing to do with the Triple Lock. The reason I say that is we were neutral in one of the worst conflicts in history.

“There was no UN, there was no Triple Lock. This state was only 18 years old at the time and part of the Commonwealth then, remained neutral.

“We’re a sovereign nation, we’re a sovereign people. The only people in my view that should decide where Irish troops are deployed are the Irish people and their representative government.”

He concluded by pointing out that the UN Security Council has five members - Russia, the US, the UK, France and China.

He argued that those countries should not decide where Irish peacekeeping troops are deployed.

Meanwhile, Sinn Féin councillor John Hearne referenced the involvement of Irish soldiers in the First and Second World Wars, describing their deaths as “wasted lives”.

His party colleague, Cllr Jim Griffin, said that while the abolition of the Triple Lock mightn’t affect the current generation, it could have a big impact on future generations.

Fine Gael councillor Jim D’Arcy echoed the sentiments of Cllr Murphy, arguing that Ireland’s neutrality has “nothing to do” with the Triple Lock.

Fianna Fáil councillor Adam Wyse expressed his regret at the way the discussion had become so heated. He suggested that the parties work together on such motions in future.

At the end of the debate, the council voted in favour of the motion by 16 votes to 12.

The councillors who voted in favour of the motion were as follows: Cllr Bailey, Cllr Declan Barry, Cllr Donal Barry, Cllr Burke, Cllr Daniels, Cllr Fitzgerald, Cllr Griffin, Cllr Hannigan, Cllr Hearne, Cllr Kelly, Cllr Mulachy, Cllr Mahony, Cllr O’Riordan, Cllr Phelan, Cllr Pratt and Cllr Ryan.

Meanwhile, those who voted against were: Cllr Brazil, Cllr Clune, Cllr Cronin, Cllr Geoghegan, Cllr Murphy, Cllr O’Donovan, Cllr O’Leary, Cllr O’Sullivan, Cllr Eamon Quinlan, Cllr Frank Quinlan and Cllr Wyse.