Latest news with #triplelock
Irish Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Reform of triple lock mechanism for deployment of troops overseas to go ahead following committee report
The Government is to move ahead with its plan to reform the so-called triple lock governing overseas deployment of Irish troops after an Oireachtas committee reported on the matter. The Coalition wants to remove the requirement for a UN mandate when deploying more than 12 troops overseas as part of an international force. On Wednesday, the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Defence and National Security published the report of its pre-legislative scrutiny of draft Government laws on the triple lock. The committee recommended an independent legal review should be commissioned in advance of any overseas mission by Irish troops if the Government proceeds with its plans. READ MORE The report argues for a strengthening of legal and Oireachtas oversight of Defence Forces activities abroad. It contends that the Oireachtas should have to vote on a regular basis to renew the mandate for deployment. UN Security Council approval is one aspect of the triple lock consent mechanism, which also requires a Dáil vote and government decision. Tánaiste and Minister for Defence Simon Harris said that, following the report, he would progress the legislation in the autumn. 'We are living in a new era in Europe, in which Ireland also faces significant new security and defence challenges, and we must consider how best to respond. This legislation is an important part of that response.' The matter has become a topic of heated debate within the political system, with the Opposition arguing removal of UN Security Council endorsement represents a dilution of Irish neutrality. [ Irish neutrality protest: Hundreds march through Dublin city demanding triple-lock safeguard Opens in new window ] The Government argues the current system allows for an effective veto by the council's permanent members, such as Russia and China. No new peacekeeping mandate has been approved by the council since 2014. Sinn Féin TD and committee chair Rose Conway-Walsh said the level of responses from the public indicated that the matter was 'really important to the Irish people'. She said there was a 'direct conflict' between Government and Opposition on whether removal of the triple lock would affect Irish neutrality. The Mayo TD said she would not accept the triple lock was on the way out. She said the Government members of the committee had refused an amendment which would have sought the retention of the triple lock. The legislation would also allow for the deployment of up to 50 troops without a supporting Dáil resolution. The report recommends that 'at minimum, there be a formal legal review of any proposed deployment, undertaken by an independent body'. At regular intervals during a deployment the government should need a 'renewed mandate' for the mission via a majority Dáil and government vote, and another formal legal review, it says. Within 12 months of a deployment, a Dáil resolution should be sought for it to continue, it advises. The legislation should also allow the Dáil, Seanad or the Oireachtas defence committee to request an 'urgent review' of deployments. [ Sinn Féin wants 111 changes to Bill reforming 'triple lock' Irish troop deployment Opens in new window ] Opposition sources are claiming as a victory the lack of a recommendation within the report to remove the triple lock. However, neither does it contain a recommendation to retain it in its current form. In her foreword to the report, Ms Conway-Walsh said nothing within the triple lock 'deters the Irish Government from addressing the legacy of neglect of our Defence Forces'. She said Opposition members, several witnesses and 'hundreds of submissions' from the public were 'deeply concerned that this proposed legislation would present a threat to our neutrality', while Government members and other witnesses said it would have no impact. The report outlines that evidence on this aspect of the Bill 'has been extensive but also often contradictory'. The legislation contains provisions regarding the management of Defence Forces members charged with or convicted of serious criminal offences. These include options for their suspension from duty and new procedures to be followed during suspensions.
Irish Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Overseas deployment of Irish troops should require independent legal advice, committee advises
Independent legal advice should be commissioned in advance of any overseas mission by Irish troops if the Government proceeds with plans to modify the 'triple lock' method of sanctioning deployment, an Oireachtas committee has found. A report from the Joint Committee on Defence and National Security argues for a strengthening of legal and Oireachtas oversight of Defence Forces activities abroad. It contends that the Oireachtas should have to vote on a regular basis to renew the mandate for deployment. The Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025, which is undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny, removes the requirement for a United Nations mandate when deploying a contingent of 12 or more troops outside the State as part of an international force. UN Security Council approval is one aspect of the 'triple lock' consent mechanism, which also requires a Dáil vote and government decision. The matter has become a topic of heated debate within the political system, with the Opposition arguing removal of UN Security Council endorsement represents a dilution of Irish neutrality. Opposition parties have accused the Government of wanting to step away from the traditional policy and towards a more liberal approach of sending troops overseas. READ MORE The Government argues the current system allows for an effective veto by the council's permanent members, such as Russia and China. No new peacekeeping mandate has been approved by the council since 2014. The legislation would also allow for the deployment of up to 50 troops without a supporting Dáil resolution. The Oireachtas committee, which was undertaking pre-legislative scrutiny of the Bill, will publish its report on Wednesday afternoon. It recommends that 'at minimum, there be a formal legal review of any proposed deployment, undertaken by an independent body'. At regular intervals during a deployment the government should need a 'renewed mandate' for the mission via a majority Dáil and government vote, and another formal legal review, it says. Within 12 months of a deployment, a Dáil resolution should be sought for it to continue, it advises. The legislation should also allow the Dáil, Seanad or the Oireachtas defence committee to request an 'urgent review' of deployments. [ Sinn Féin wants 111 changes to Bill reforming 'triple lock' Irish troop deployment Opens in new window ] Opposition sources are claiming as a victory the lack of a recommendation within the report to remove the triple lock. However, neither does it contain a recommendation to retain it in its current form. In her foreword to the report, committee chair Rose Conway-Walsh, of Sinn Féin, said nothing within the triple lock 'deters the Irish government from addressing the legacy of neglect of our Defence Forces'. She said Opposition members, several witnesses and 'hundreds of submissions' from the public were 'deeply concerned that this proposed legislation would present a threat to our neutrality', while Government members and other witnesses said it would have no impact. The report outlines that evidence on this aspect of the Bill 'has been extensive but also often contradictory'. The legislation contains provisions regarding the management of Defence Forces members charged with or convicted of serious criminal offences. These include options for their suspension from duty and new procedures to be followed during suspensions.
BreakingNews.ie
a day ago
- Politics
- BreakingNews.ie
Committee calls for clarity on Government proposals to change triple lock
Further safeguards and clarity are needed in the Government's draft laws to change Ireland's system for deploying troops abroad, a committee has recommended. The Joint Committee on Defence and National Security published a report into the Government's proposals to change the 'triple lock', which is the requirement for Government, Dáil and UN approval to send more than 12 Irish soldiers overseas. Advertisement The main change would see the need for formal UN approval for such missions removed and replaced with a stipulation that the Defence Forces deployment would be in accordance with the UN Charter and international law. Irish troops on parade at Camp Shamrock near the border with Lebanon and Israel. Photo: Niall Carson/PA. The Government has argued this will prevent the permanent members of the UN Security Council – Russia, China, the UK, the US and France – from vetoing Irish peacekeeping missions. Critics see it as an erosion of Irish neutrality and a move towards European militarisation. The Government's Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 also looks to expand on the basis for Irish soldiers being dispatched outside the State. Advertisement In its report published on Wednesday, the committee makes 27 recommendations asking for further safeguards or clarity on the draft changes. This includes a call to define what 'strengthening international security' means in the context of the Bill. It said that the legislation should specify that the phrase will not include the taking part in missions where cluster munitions or anti-personnel mines are used. 'The Joint Committee recommends that the legislation potentially explore definitions for how the terms 'conflict prevention' and 'strengthening international security' will be interpreted in Ireland and outline clear parameters and safeguards for deployment in these cases,' it said. Advertisement It also recommended that 'at minimum' an independent legal review should be carried out before Irish troops are deployed abroad with an international force. The findings should be made available to Oireachtas members, and a version 'redacted where necessary' is made public. The committee also recommends that the proposals to increase the number of Irish troops allowed to be deployed without Dail approval from 12 to 50, should include 'at a minimum, oversight provisions' from two committees: defence and foreign affairs. Ireland has been taking part in UN peacekeeping missions since 1958 and the triple lock has been in place since 1960. Advertisement
The Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Reeves must hike taxes, scrap triple lock or CHARGE for NHS to avoid economic disaster, global finance watchdog claims
RACHEL Reeves must hike taxes, scrap the triple lock or charge for the NHS, an influential finance watchdog warned today. The International Monetary Fund said the Chancellor must make deeply unpopular decisions to tackle soaring debt, sky-high borrowing costs and weak growth – all made worse by an ageing population and ballooning pensions bill. 1 In a damning new report, the IMF declared Ms Reeves and future chancellors must either whack up taxes, axe pillars of the welfare state like the triple lock or make patients pay to see a doctor. It also argued government finances should only be probed once a year to avoid "overly frequent" changes to policy. Currently the Office for Budget Responsibility assesses if the Treasury is on course to meet its borrowing commitments twice a year. The watchdog said: 'Unless the authorities revisit their commitment not to increase taxes on 'working people', further spending prioritisation will be required to align better the scope of public services with available resources." The IMF suggested replacing the pensions triple lock with a policy of indexing the state pension to the cost of living. It also argued access to benefits and public services could be more intensely means tested, with higher income households paying for the likes of the NHS. The IMF's economic update, published on Friday, acknowledged the Chancellor's earlier attempts at welfare reform. But since it was written on July 1, Sir Keir Starmer caved to rebels on his own benches, watering down plans to tackle the ballooning disability benefits bill. That U-turn blew a £5bn hole in the government's budget. The IMF said such reforms were 'critical' to stop the public finances spiralling further. The watchdog also warned that Ms Reeves must stick to tough fiscal plans or risk disaster if the economy falters or interest rates spike. It warned political pressure from MPs for more spending could further derail the public purse. And the IMF found that planning reforms to spur housebuilding also face fierce resistance – but failure to unleash a building boom would damage growth. The latest update from its economists predicted sluggish growth of just 1.2 per cent this year and 1.4 per cent in 2026, and warned of the risk of 'stagflation' – the nightmare scenario of rising prices and a stagnant economy. Despite the grim forecast, Ms Reeves insisted the IMF's report backed her plans. She said: 'Our fiscal rules allow us to confront those challenges by investing in Britain's renewal. 'We're committing billions of pounds into improving transport connections, providing record funding for affordable homes, as well as backing major projects like Sizewell C to drive economic growth. 'There's more to do, and that's why we're slashing unnecessary red tape and unblocking investment to let British businesses thrive and put more money in working people's pockets.' Responding to the report, Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride said: " Rachel Reeves has already fiddled her fiscal targets to allow her to borrow hundreds of billions more over this parliament. She has loosened the rules and then constantly teetered on the brink of breaking them. 'In a context where the Chancellor's credibility is already in tatters, changing the goalposts a second time would run real risks with market confidence.'
The Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Reeves will have to raise taxes, charge for the NHS or ditch pensions triple lock, warns IMF
Rachel Reeves has been given her strongest warning yet that she will have to break a key party manifesto pledge by hiking taxes, introducing charges to use the NHS or drop the triple lock guarantee on the state pension. The beleaguered chancellor raised taxes by £40bn in her first Budget last year, partly to fund record new investment in the NHS. But now the world's most important financial watchdog has warned that she will probably have to break an election promise to raise 'taxes on working people' – income tax, VAT or national insurance contributions by employees to balance the books. In a report on the UK economy - Article IV Consultation with United Kingdom - the International Monetary Fund warned: 'Unless the authorities revisit their commitment not to increase taxes on 'working people', further spending prioritisation will be required to align better the scope of public services with available resources.' It went on: 'The triple lock [guarantee on the state pension] could be replaced with a policy of indexing the state pension to the cost of living. 'Access to public services could also depend more on an individual's capacity to pay, with charges levied on higher-income users, such as co-payments for health services, while shielding the vulnerable. 'There may also be scope to expand means testing of benefits.' The challenges Ms Reeves is facing, the IMF said, included the impact of Donald Trump's continuing tariffs war with the rest of the world as well as 'little fiscal headroom' in the UK finances.
