I raised with the Taoiseach last week my concern and that of my party about Government proposals to dismantle the triple lock. I emphasise again we in the Labour Party would oppose any attempt to dismantle or undermine the triple lock. Given President Trump's appalling attempts to humiliate Ukraine's President Zelenskyy, which we saw last Friday, it is all the more important now we stand in solidarity with Ukraine but also that we reaffirm our commitment to the international rules-based order, multilateralism and the principles of the United Nations that Trump seems intent on tearing up. With that in mind, I am concerned, when the Taoiseach says dismantling the triple lock will not compromise Irish neutrality, about what exactly he is proposing. We understand the legislation will replace the requirement for UN sanction with a test-----

Thank you, Deputy. An Taoiseach to respond.

-----that the mission must be in keeping with the spirit of the UN Charter, but if that is the case, why rule out the need for UN sanction?

Fundamentally, it will be within the spirit of the UN Charter, but we do not want countries like Russia in particular vetoing or having the ultimate decision on whether Ireland should send its military on a peacekeeping mission.

It is very simple.

Have you read the UN charter?

Given the behaviour of Russia over a decade, and in particular in the past three years, it is incomprehensible that we would allow Russia to have a veto.

What about-----

That is the view. Other aspects of the existing legislation need to change. The figure of 12 should be brought up to 50. There are other missions like the drug narcotics international group, of which we are a member. We cannot send a ship to track down narcotics because of the existing legislation.