Explainer: Triple Lock or not for peacekeeping missions
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In the face of threats from the east, European nations are busily reassessing their ability to stand up to aggression and to unite against a common foe.
In this context, debate is taking place in Ireland about the future of the Triple Lock - the legislative device that, since 2001, has required a United Nations' mandate along with a Dáil and Government decision to be taken before more than 12 members of the Defence Forces are deployed on overseas missions.
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Cabinet approval for the changes has already been given, with Mr Harris saying the focus is very much on ending the veto that permanent members of the UN Security Council have on such missions.
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The Government also points out that no new peacekeeping missions have been approved since 2014 and that, since 2001, 56 draft resolutions have been vetoed at the Security Council (not all for peacekeeping missions) - 19 by the US, 16 by China and 37 by the Russian Federation. It all bolsters the case to change the Triple Lock, it says.
But campaigners opposing changes say this is not the whole story. They claim that in the event the UN Security Council does not agree on missions, the UN General Assembly can step in and grant a mandate.
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One way or another, the debate here about the future of the Triple Lock will continue with the focus firmly on the role of the Security Council and how the use of the veto on resolutions there ultimately decides if Ireland can take place in peacekeeping operations around the globe.
Campaigners claim the Security Council veto does not stop UN mandates for peacekeeping as legislation to end the Triple Lock advances here.
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