West Donegal roadshow warns government plans may leave Irish soldiers 'in bodybags'

The first of two Neutrality Roadshows to address the dangers posed to Irish neutrality took place on Thursday night, with the message that people don’t want Irish troops “returning home in bodybags.”

With a roadshow to follow in Donegal Town, the talking point at Scioból an Phobail, Anagaire, was the implications of the government removing the triple lock and thus changing Ireland's neutrality.

Currently, the triple lock mechanism only allows deployment of 12 or more troops where there is a UN mandate either from the UN Security Council or UN General Assembly, Irish Government approval, and a Dáil resolution.

Under the draft legislation, it is proposed to increase the number of troops who are sent on peacekeeping missions from 12 to 50. The Government recently took the first steps in dismantling the triple lock, saying that it could no longer leave it up to the UN to decide where Irish troops are sent.

Removing the triple lock will fundamentally change the character of Ireland’s engagement with the world and may also make Ireland a target for attack if Irish troops become embroiled in future wars overseas.

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“The conversation focused on the government's intention to dismantle the Triple Lock, which regulates the deployment of Irish troops overseas,” Cllr Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig said. “Without it, Irish people may be sent to fight and kill or be killed in foreign wars in the service of the empire.

“Moving from peacekeeping to war-making and deploying on EU Battlegroup and potentially NATO-led missions may see Irish people returning home scarred from the horror of war, or worse, in bodybags.”

The guest speakers were Niamh Ní Bhriain and Fionn Wallace, who are touring the country with help from GoFundMe, called The Neutrality Roadshow.

Ní Bhriain is a researcher, writer and programme coordinator at the Transnational Institute. She has over 15 years of experience working with civil society organisations and the United Nations on questions of war, conflict and peace in Latin America and Europe. She holds an LLM in International Human Rights Law from the Irish Centre for Human Rights at the University of Galway.

Wallace is a former parliamentary researcher and speechwriter. He has worked for 12 years between Dáil Éireann and the European Parliament, focusing on foreign, defence and security policy. He holds a BA in history and philosophy and an MA in philosophy from University College Dublin.

“We discussed an upcoming motion going before Comhairle Contae Dhún na nGall next Monday calling on the Freestate Government to retain the Triple Lock and uphold international law,” Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig added. “A big Go Raibh Maith Agat to Fionn, Niamh agus Rachel and all that came last night as well, glad to see a number of Councillors as well in attendance. I hope to get the full support of all councillors on Monday.”