McDonald seeks referendum on Triple Lock
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald called on Taoiseach Micheál Martin to put any change to the Triple Lock to a referendum during Leaders' Questions in the Dáil on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. She said that if the Taoiseach was confident the public supported his plan, it should be put before the people in a referendum.
McDonald accused Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael of pressing ahead with a plan to end the Triple Lock protection. That accusation was put as her characterisation of the Government proposal, which would remove the United Nations mandate requirement for sending Defence Forces personnel abroad.
The exchange took place at Leaders' Questions, which followed Prayer and Reflection after the Ceann Comhairle took the chair. The Dáil will debate the Triple Lock on Wednesday, the day after the exchange.
Houses of the Oireachtas
- Dáil Éireann debate, Leaders' Questions, 20 October 2026
In 2013 here in the Dáil the Taoiseach said the triple lock, which is the requirement to have a mandate from the UN, the Government and the Dáil for the deployment of Irish troops, was the core of our neutrality.
Irish Examiner
- Triple Lock: Mary Lou McDonald calls for referendum on changes to Irish neutrality
The Government should put any proposals to change the Triple Lock to a referendum rather than restricting debate on the proposal, the Dáil has heard.