Will the Taoiseach allow people to decide on the Government's proposal to scrap the triple lock by calling an ordinary referendum on the Defence (Amendment) Bill? Why? Because it is a matter of national importance - the Taoiseach himself has said the triple lock is at the core of our neutrality - because people have voted on this in terms of the Nice and Lisbon treaties, and because Fianna Fáil in government promised people that if it were to ever change the triple lock, there would be a referendum. Brian Cowen, as Minister for Foreign Affairs, in 2002 stated:

The National Declaration [the civil declaration] confirms...that we will continue to take our sovereign decision...based on the triple lock guarantee of UN endorsement, Government decision and Dáil approval....there will be no change to that situation unless the people first give their assent in a referendum.

Will the Government hold to that commitment Fianna Fáil made and allow the people to decide?

Through the referendum on the Nice treaty, we inserted in the Constitution a prohibition on Ireland joining a mutual defence pact in the European Union, so we already have a provision in the Constitution prohibiting Ireland joining any mutual defence pact, which the Deputy never references. No one on that side of the House ever references it.

That is different from the triple lock

It is crucial because the Deputy says we want our young people to join a European army. They cannot. We could not do it. No government could because there is a constitutional prohibition on it.

The Deputy mentioned an ordinary referendum. We have never had an ordinary referendum. We only have referendums to amend the Constitution, that is, to delete something from the Constitution or to add something to it. The Deputy is endeavouring to create a new form of check or limit on the democratically elected representatives in the Parliament.

Fianna Fáil promised people

That concludes questions. I thank the Taoiseach.

We have a parliamentary democracy.

Fianna Fáil promised people.

Deputy, please, show courtesy.

Through the referendum on the Nice treaty, we inserted the strongest possible protection-----

Taoiseach, your time is up. We have finished.

-----against Ireland joining any mutual defence pact.

There will be no change "unless the people first give their assent in a referendum".

That is the end of Questions on Policy or Legislation. Taoiseach, please. Do not antagonise him.

No change. Fianna Fáil promised people.

Deputy Murphy, respect the direction of the Chair. Out of courtesy, I allowed the Deputy in even though we were over time. I might have to review that in the future.