Cross-party Oireachtas members of the INL today announced details of a major Dublin event to promote peace and neutrality. The ‘Public Rally for Peace: Save the Triple Lock - Save Neutrality' is taking place at 2pm in The Gresham Hotel on May 10th and will include speakers from across the opposition parties and independent Parliamentarians. There will be music and performances from Lisa O’Neil and other artists. This event is part of a campaign of activities nationwide in opposition to government plans to get rid of the triple lock and undermine Ireland's proud tradition of neutrality.
Announcing the event, Senator Alice-Mary Higgins, Sinéad Gibney TD, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD, Paul Murphy TD, Senator Frances Black and Senator Chris Andrews gathered at the Hiroshima Stone in Merrion Square Park. The stone is placed below a Cherry Tree planted by the Irish Campaign for Nuclear disarmament (CND) in 1980 in memory of those who died due to the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945.
Senator Frances Black said: “The Irish Neutrality League is a coalition of Opposition TDs and Senators united to urge our Government to heed the voices of the people. As a nation, we take great pride in our long-standing contributions to UN peacekeeping missions and our influential role in advocating for global disarmament and international law. Our credibility in these areas has been bolstered by our commitment to neutrality. The Government's move to abolish the triple lock signifies a fundamental and dangerous shift in our foreign policy that could undermine our democracy and damage our international standing as a beacon of peace. That is why we are collectively calling for a protection of the triple lock”
Sinead Gibney TD said: “We should all be concerned about the increased pressure from the government, and from vested interests, to fundamentally change our stance of military neutrality. The government is proposing a radical removal of safeguards and oversight; mechanisms which were guaranteed to the Irish people in two separate referendums. Furthermore, the government is obscuring this move with the purposeful spread of misinformation about the veto, and about the capacity for the UN General Assembly to satisfy our Triple Lock.”
Paul Murphy TD said: “The Government wants to join in EU militarisation and send Irish soldiers to fight and die in imperialist wars. That’s why it’s so determined to increase military spending and abolish the Triple Lock, which the Taoiseach previously described as the “core” of Irish neutrality. We have to build a strong anti-war movement now to stop them.”
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD said: “This is a crucially important event encompassing a broad range of parties and part of building the campaign to oppose the Government’s attempt to end the Triple Lock Neutrality Protection. And that is what we are talking about here, it is the ending of the Triple Lock Neutrality Protection. It isn’t a nuancing or reform, it is the ending of the Triple Lock Neutrality Protection and it will allow the Government of the day, if they have a majority, that will be all they need to send Irish troops to missions abroad, of what kind, we do not know. In our view, we need to protect Irish Neutrality and the attempts to end the Triple Lock Neutrality Protection seriously dilutes and damages Irish Neutrality and I don’t think that is in the best interests of Ireland strategically in the long run.”
Senator Chris Andrews said: “At a time when we need less war and more peace, the Irish Government is actively working to upend our neutrality and align ourselves with European militarisation. Our greatest strength is our positive reputation for peace-building and diplomacy, and moves to undermine our independent foreign policy will only weaken our ability to promote peace, while putting the men and women of the Defence Forces at increased risk.”
Senator Alice-Mary Higgins said: We are inviting the public to join us on the 10th May because we know they value Ireland’s record as a neutral and respected voice for peace, disarmament, Human rights, and international law. Removing the triple lock would undermine our credibility in these areas, weaken our connection to the United Nations, and leave us exposed to pressure for participation in inappropriate or unjust military activity at a time when our most powerful contribution is through the work of peace”.
On July 13th in Seanad Eireann Senator Alice-Mary Higgins spoke in support of the Second Stage of our Seanad Reform Bill 2016 calling for implementation of the Manning Report and a more democratic and open Seanad.
Independent Senator Alice-Mary Higgins is running for re-election to Seanad Éireann (NUI Panel) as a strong progressive voice for equality, environment, public services and human rights.