The Dáil last week passed the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006 too hurriedly, in the closing stages of its summer term, in the rush to go into recess. It is too important a piece of legislation on the controversial question of Irish military neutrality to be treated this way. The Bill relaxes the triple lock arrangement applying to Irish troops serving abroad, whereby such operations require approval by the Oireachtas, the Government and the United Nations.
Members of the permanent Defence Forces will be liable to participate in emergency humanitarian or disaster tasks, go on training for European Union battlegroups, and be sent orepresentative, monitoring or advisory duties without such prior approval from now on. They may be despatched to serve in international forces "established, mandated, authorised, endorsed, supported, approved or otherwise sanctioned by a resolution of the Security Council or the General Assembly of the United Nations". But they may not be deployed until approved by the Dáil.
Thus the Bill gives greater leeway to the Government in directing overseas operations by the Defence Forces. This may be a pragmatic and sensible development in the eyes of the Departments of Defence and Foreign Affairs. It recognises changes in international security conditions, and especially the willingness of the United Nations to use regional organisations such as the EU in international peacemaking or peacekeeping forces. Ireland's long and honourable record in this field will be made available in a new set of circumstances.
Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea defends the substance of the Bill in an article in this newspaper today. He is much less persuasive on the parliamentary passage of the legislation. It was presented to the Seanad on June 13th, ahead of its first, second and committee readings by that chamber on June 26th and 27th, where it received informed and attentive debate on a number of substantive amendments. But its consideration by the Dáil was limited to a mere three hours for all stages on July 4th, from 9 pm until midnight. This was a rushed job, quite inadequate for its subject matter. The criticism is all the more valid because the Bill affects the power of the Oireachtas by giving the Governments discretion to despatch troops without prior approval.
Mr O'Dea says these changes had ample airing in public discussion over the last few months. Fine Gael, Labour and the Green Party are right to take a different view. The Bill was not threatened with defeat but the "triple lock" guarantee given to the electorate on any changes in our military neutrality was violated.