Sir, – I agree with Dorcha Lee that the “triple lock” is not a requirement of Irish neutrality (Letters, November 24th).
In 2003, Ireland was asked by the UN secretary general to provide peacekeeping troops for Macedonia. This was not possible because China had blocked a UN resolution on Macedonia (now the Republic of North Macedonia) as it had recognised Taiwan.
There bring no UN resolution, one of the three locks, Irish troops could not participate with other EU states in bringing stability to a country on the EU’s doorstep.
Later, Irish troops were sent to a much more dangerous mission in Chad. China decided our fate, not Dáil Éireann, or the Oireachtas.
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The recent Fine Gael ardfheis got it right. The “triple lock” has to go if Ireland is to freely make its own sovereign decisions. – Yours, etc,
GAY MITCHELL,
Dublin 6.
Sir, – The recent decision by the Fine Gael party to abandon the “triple lock” undermines the UN in its efforts to maintain international peace.
Article 43 of its charter calls upon: “All Members of the United Nations, in order to contribute to the maintenance of international peace and security, undertake to make available to the Security Council, on its call and in accordance with a special agreement or agreements, armed forces, assistance, and facilities, including rights of passage, necessary for the purpose of maintaining international peace and security.”
The Fine Gael party should focus its energy on reforming the many deficiencies inherent in the UN organisation rather than undermining it for its own ideological reasons .
The UN can only be a successful vehicle for the maintenance of world peace if it receives full support from member countries like Ireland.
The triple lock as it presently exists should be maintained as it is supportive of the UN and is a powerful preventative to stop any Irish government from dragging Ireland into a non-UN mandated conflict in the future. – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN BUTLER,
Drumcondra,
Dublin 9.