As Easter approaches, it is an apt time to remind the House and the Government of how much the people of the Ireland think of our neutrality and the triple lock. The triple lock was introduced in 2001 after the defeat of the referendum on the Nice treaty. When the referendum was defeated, the Government of the day noted that the one main public concern was that the treaty was about a potential erosion of Irish neutrality. Every opinion poll since has shown shows that the Irish people value our neutrality. The Government is hoping that the issue will disappear behind more topical headlines. While people struggle with grocery bills and fuel costs, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will quickly and quietly remove the triple lock. I commend Senator Tom Clonan who, in his own way, brings this issue up consistently every week.

The Government is deliberately misleading people by saying that decisions to deploy Irish peacekeepers are being made by Russia and America. This is factually incorrect. The truth is that the Government does not want to let down its buddies in the EU Commission, so it is constantly sending out the message that our hands are tied by the triple lock. We had a MEP from Clare in here a month ago. He stated that Europe does not care whether Ireland keeps its neutrality or not.

Let us be clear. The triple lock was not imposed on Ireland. It was chosen by the Irish people. I ask that the Government listens to the people. Why is it pushing to have us aligned in an EU military bloc? We do not want our male and female peacekeepers to be sent off to fight on foreign battlefields where they have no business being. At a time of global instability, we need to use our position of neutrality to help broker peace. If there is pressure coming from other member states, the Government needs to be clear that we will not engage in military conflict. As de Valera once said, "in a world at war, each set of belligerents is over ready to regard those who are not with them as against them". There are members of the Government who are deeply uncomfortable about the removal of the triple lock. I ask them to use their position to fight for what the people want.