‘Battle on’ for Irish neutrality – Sinn Féin

‘We serve neither King nor Kaiser, but Ireland’, such was the historic undertone and the clear message set out at a public meeting in Cootehill last week, one of a series organised by Sinn Féin nationwide in opposition to Government’s plans to scrap Ireland’s Triple Lock guarantee.

The current system requires UN approval, a Government decision, and a Dáil vote before Irish defence personnel can be deployed abroad. Speaker after speaker expressed concern over the perceived erosion of Ireland’s neutrality, citing examples such as the use of Shannon Airport by US military aircraft and the transit of Israeli-bound weaponry through Irish airspace.

Fears were also raised over potential conscription and the risk of Ireland being drawn into foreign-led conflicts, leading to calls for public demonstrations to demand that neutrality be enshrined in the Constitution through a referendum.

Senator Pauline Tully was joined at the top table by Cavan-Monaghan TDs Matt Carthy and Cathy Bennett, and Donegal’s Pearse Doherty. All believe the Triple Lock remains a vital safeguard on how and why Irish troops get deployed overseas.

With the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 currently undergoing pre-legislative scrutiny, each warned that time is running out to change course. “The time is now,” said Senator Tully, calling the Government’s move a dangerous and undemocratic shift in foreign and defence policy.

Next was Deputy Carthy, Sinn Féin’s spokesperson on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, and former Foreign Affairs and Defence spokesperson.

He said many are shocked by the “fast pace” at which the Government has moved to dismantle the Triple Lock.

He described the Irish Defence Forces as being in “crisis”, suffering from chronic under-investment and a steady annual loss of personnel since the coalition took power. Instead of addressing the issues, he accused the Government of having “prioritised” removing a mechanism that, for decades, had enabled Irish peacekeepers to serve effectively in unstable regions.

“The Irish people have a right to know before such a big decision is made.”

Deputy Carthy found it suspicious the proposed change following so soon after an announcement to withdraw Irish troops from the UN-mandated mission in the Golan Heights.

He referred to Fine Gael’s 2001 policy paper ‘Beyond Neutrality’ - “before anyone had heard of Putin or the invasion in Ukraine” - and which advocated for deeper military integration within Europe, claiming it was dropped after public backlash.

Even then-Tánaiste Micheál Martin described the push in 2013 as “an out-of-touch ideological obsession”.

Now it appears that Fianna Fáil has aligned with Fine Gael’s stance, with a “nod and a wink”, opined Deputy Carthy, accusing the parties of abandoning their position on neutrality “hook, line and sinker”.

The Monaghan man reminded the room that the Triple Lock was hard-won, introduced during debates on the Nice and Lisbon Treaties only to reassure voters that Ireland’s neutrality would be protected.

Sinn Féin had readied 100 amendments to the bill in an effort to delay or derail its progress. “Let them know their jobs are at risk,” urged Deputy Carthy, calling for public action before handing over to Deputy Doherty.

The Sinn Féin Finance spokesperson described the Government’s proposal as a “full frontal assault” on Irish neutrality and warned of increasing proximity to NATO and an “aggressive military agenda”.

He accused successive Irish governments of “cow-towing” to larger EU nations.

“The message must be clear,” he said. “Hands off Irish neutrality.”

Deputy Doherty argued that neutrality is central to Irish identity, especially for Republicans. He cited the slogan of James Connolly and the Irish Citizen Army: ‘We serve neither King nor Kaiser, but Ireland’.

Allowing military craft to land in Shannon was the start of a “slippery slope” toward entanglement in war.

“We want no hand, act or part in bringing war to any land,” continued Deputy Doherty.

Neutral nations, he said, play a unique and vital role in diplomacy and are “critical interlocuteur” in the global campaign for peace. “I’ve four sons. I don’t want them fighting another man’s war.”

While Taoiseach Micheál Martin may claim the world has “profoundly changed”, Doherty insisted such instability makes reinforcing Irish neutrality all the more urgent.

“Voices of the just must prevail, and peace must win out,” he concluded. “The battle to save Irish neutrality is on.”

Broader concern

Alongside local Sinn Féin councillors, around 50 people attended the meeting. Notably, the crowd wasn’t made up solely of familiar faces, reflecting a broader concern beyond the traditional party base. Often, such events risk becoming echo chambers, but here, attendees were actively engaged and arrived to ask pointed, thoughtful questions.

Many voiced their deepening unease about Ireland’s neutrality being eroded, not to mention the EU’s shifting defensive posturing. Some feared an EU army was inevitable; others were concerned about the long-term impact on future generations.

From the floor, James from Longford asked if there was a legal basis to challenge the proposed amendment in court - a question that resonated across the room.

Sean, another contributor, argued that Ireland had already “ceded control to Brussels”, and he accused the media of being part of a hidden agenda to prepare for increased arms spending.

“Russia is not the problem,” he repeated twice bef ore handing over the mic.

Deputy Doherty responded forcefully, claiming the Government is using global crises to try bypass legislative scrutiny.

“Never waste a good crisis,” he said, contrasting the push for swift spending on arms with the slow response to problems such as the housing crisis.

Defending the Triple Lock, he said, was just “the start of something greater”, and if a legal challenge was viable, he assured: “We will take it.”

Deputy Carthy said a broader strategy is needed to counter attempts to undermine Irish neutrality. The EU, he reminded, only has powers that Ireland has given it.

Lorraine from Cootehill asked what contingency plans exist if Ireland were attacked. Drawing on her experience in countries with national service, she called for a more open debate on defence readiness.

Raymond, a Vietnam veteran, shared how he served in a non-combative position during the Vietnam war.

“The US government lied to me in 1967,” he said. “Talk to your children. Don’t make the same mistake I did.”

His voice cracked as he urged the room to resist repeating history.

People power

John from Ballyjamesduff warned of the “big one” still to come. Referencing Iraq, he said Ireland had long been drawn into international conflicts.

“What will we do to stand up against conscription?” he asked. Carmel from Cootehill responded: “The biggest defence is people power.”

One attendee asked about neutrality’s impact on trade, and another questioned why Ireland would enter alliances with countries that still occupy part of its territory.

Monaghan councillor Sinn Féin’s Sean Conlan accused the Government of “smoke and mirrors” regarding the €1.5bn defence windfall in the revised National Development Plan 2026–30, asking who would ensure proper oversight of the funds.

Cllr Brian McKenna expressed outrage at the “genocide” happening in Palestine.

“They’re worse than the Nazis ever were,” he said, heavily criticising global inaction.

The room bore visible signs of pro-Palestinian solidarity- alongside a table selling Sinn Féin literature and proclamations was another filled with Palestinian flags, keychains, keffiyehs, and hats in hues of red, green, black and white.

Deputy Bennett closed the evening by calling Irish neutrality the “greatest gift” passed down by earlier generations.

“Let’s make sure we take the fight for Irish neutrality forward. We owe it to generations to come.”