The programme for Government committed the Government to upholding Ireland's triple lock neutrality protection. However, as was confirmed this morning, the Tánaiste sought and received the approval of the Cabinet to bring forward legislation to scrap the triple lock by removing the requirement for the UN mandate. In giving the Tánaiste this green light, the Government has started the process of trying to dismantle Ireland's neutrality block by block. The Government has moved to change a very proud tradition of Irish troops as peacekeepers. Clearly, the Government is intent on selling out Ireland's neutrality to the escalating EU militarisation pursued by Ursula von der Leyen and others. I put it to the Taoiseach that the Government has absolutely no democratic mandate to sunder Ireland's position of neutrality. None of the Government parties went to the people on that basis.

I see the Fianna Fáil Members grinning but I do not think it is a grinning matter. The Green Party certainly did not go to the Irish people saying it would sunder Irish neutrality. Fine Gael has been always ambivalent, and all of us know that. If the Taoiseach is so sure that this is a great idea and in the nation's interest, I suggest that he go to the people by way of a referendum and seek a democratic sanction first for the action he is proposing.

I would like the guidance of the House on this but I believe every Member of this House has a mandate, including a mandate to introduce legislation.

Not to wreck Ireland's neutrality.

Please.

He has no mandate for it.

Please.

This is the problem with politics in Ireland at the moment. Of course there is a mandate. I have a mandate and the Deputy has one, and I respect hers. People have a mandate to make proposals-----

None of us has a mandate to dismantle Irish neutrality.

-----or introduce any legislative proposal in this House. Of course, nobody is seeking to dismantle Irish neutrality.

It is precisely what the Taoiseach is seeking to do.

Does the Deputy ask the questions and answer them? Am I needed here at all? She asked me a question and I would like to answer it because I was at the Cabinet meeting today when we considered the issue of the triple lock. Unlike the Deputy, I do not believe Russia should have a veto over where our peacekeepers go.

That is a complete red herring.

That is the effect today. If you keep the triple lock, the UN Security Council can veto.

That is factually inaccurate-----

I look forward to debating that with the Deputy.

It is factually inaccurate and shocking that the Taoiseach could be so inaccurate or ill-informed.

Please, Deputy.

-----and I welcome her support for Óglaigh na hÉireann as well.

It is shocking, utterly shocking.