The Measure has been combined with a Non-Lethal Military Aid Package of 100 Million Euros. As part of their Joint efforts to Achieve World Peace, Vladimir Putin and Trump (R) are going to make Neutral Ireland No longer Neutral. The Defense Minister of that Country, Simon Harris, has presented a Proposal to the Cabinet that will allow the Government to send Troops to Third Countries, as long as it is for Peacekeeping Missions. The Measure is a Policy Change, Not a Legal one, as there is No Legal Text that establishes that Limitation.
It is a Change that may seem Modest but represents a Fundamental Change in what has been Ireland's Foreign and Defense Policy for 69 years, and also opens the door, at least in Theory, to possible participation of the Country in a Peacekeeping Force in Ukraine. The Measure has been combined with the Approval of a Non-Lethal Military Aid Package, Excluding Weapons and Explosives, but allowing Communication Equipment and Sappers (Combat Engineers), for 100 million Euros.
In Reality, Ireland is Not completely Neutral. Even less so since the First Invasion of Ukraine, when Russia began Violating the Country's Airspace with Tu-95 Strategic Bombers that, at least on One occasion, carried Atomic Bombs, according to the British and Norwegian Air Forces. The Strategic Logic of sending those Relics of the Cold War to Ireland, is only understood by Vladimir Putin, but the Result has been a closer Alignment of Ireland with NATO. The Country also has a tiny Armed Forces, with Only about 8,000 Personnel, and lacks Fighter Jets. The Interception of the Russian Tu-95s was Carried-Out by British Eurofighter Jets.
All these Precedents seem to have conspired to Dismantle the system in place since Ireland joined the United Nations on December 14th, 1955. According to this system, Ireland could only send Forces to Third Countries on Peacekeeping Missions, as long as they were part of a UN Mission. In the 21st century, things changed a bit. Ireland Approved the use of its Airspace and Territorial Waters by the U.S. and its Allies in the Invasion of Afghanistan following the 9/11 Attacks.
Then came the Nice and Lisbon Treaties of the European Union in 2001 and 2007, which established, at least as an Aspiration, a Commitment to European Collective Defense. These Documents sparked Fears in Dublin that the Country would Abandon its Neutrality to join NATO or some other Military Alliance. So the Commitment to the UN was Codified so that, in addition to the United Nations Security Council, the Deployment of Soldiers on Peacekeeping Missions had to be Approved by the Country's Government and by the Lower House of Parliament, the Dáil Éireann. Without this Triple Green Light, the Irish Government could only send a maximum of 12 Soldiers abroad, and always on Peacekeeping Missions.
Thus, the 'Triple Lock' was Born. But Two Factors over which Ireland has No Influence have Conspired against it. Obviously, the most Serious is the Russian Invasion of Ukraine in 2022, now Exacerbated by the U.S. Government's Decision to hand over All Conquered Territories to Moscow and Not to Participate, for now, not even as a Guarantor, in a Peacekeeping Force on the Ceasefire Line.
The Second Element is Less Relevant, but has provided a Strong Argument to Harris and His Center-Right Fine Gael Party in Promoting the Reform: the United Nations Security Council is Paralyzed. Since it Approved the Peacekeeping Mission in the Central African Republic on April 10th, 2014, which is still Ongoing, it has Not agreed on any other Missions. With a Security Council whose Veto-Wielding Members: the U.S., China, Great Britain, France, and Russia are Increasingly Divided, seeking UN Approval to Send Soldiers anywhere is a Waste of Ttime.
This, in turn, has led to somewhat embarrassing situations for Dublin, especially during the US withdrawal from Kabul, where Ireland could barely send the mandatory 12 soldiers to assist in the chaotic evacuation of Westerners and Afghans fleeing the extremist Taliban.
With the Reform, the Irish Government will still need the Approval of the Dáil Éireann. But this is of little Relevance. Ireland has a Parliamentary system, so the Executive must have the Support of the Legislature to form a Government andGovern.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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