Abolishing ‘ridiculous’ triple lock is right step forward for our country

Sir, – Following Wednesday’s vote to abolish the triple lock, it is important to state the facts.

The triple lock’s affording to Russia, China and the United States a veto over Irish military deployments is the antithesis of the “neutrality” and “sovereignty” it supposedly protects.

Similarly farcical are calls that this vote should be put to a referendum. Nowhere in the Constitution does the triple lock appear, thus a referendum is not required.

Facts matter more than feelings especially when it comes to national defence and foreign policy. – Yours, etc,

CONOR MACNAMARA,

Tallinn,

Estonia.

Sir, – Finally, an adult decision on Irish foreign policy. I am very happy to see the Government’s vote win on abolishing this ridiculous requirement. It was long overdue.

The spurious opposition claims were laughable to anyone with a basic grasp on Irish foreign policy and how international missions function are deployed.

Neither neutrality nor the triple lock is an element of the Constitution; there is no need for a referendum.

While we may have a pitifully small defence budget, we have at least taken a step towards deciding what to do with our own troops to assist international peace support operations, and not wait for permission from a dysfunctional United Nations Security Council. – Yours, etc,

RUAIRI KAVANAGH,

Kimmage,

Dublin 12.