Independent TD Barry Heneghan has stated that the Triple Lock should go to a referendum and has called on the government to “let the Irish people decide.”
The Dublin Bay North TD was not present in the Dáil when the topic was discussed in the Dáil at the end of October, with opposition parties fearing that the government has begun the process of changing Ireland’s long-standing policy on neutrality.
This publication noted that Heneghan was not present in the Dáil for the vote, and Heneghan has clarified that he was in Denmark on pre-arranged Dáil business, hence his absence for the vote.
The TD, who agreed a deal in January 2025 to back a Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael coalition along with fellow independents, said that part of agreeing to back Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael meant committing to a “reform” of the Triple Lock.
The Triple Lock was not mentioned in neither Fianna Fáil’s or Fine Gael’s 2024 election manifestos, yet in a heated Dáil vote prior to the October break, the Dáil voted by 79 votes to 71 to reform the Triple Lock.
Despite the coalition winning the first vote, government parties have stressed that this does not mean that the Triple Lock is being abolished; rather, it is being reformed.
Regardless, Heneghan said that the Triple Lock was part of the debate surrounding the Nice Treaty referendum in 2002, and that the electorate’s wishes must be respected.
“I believe the Irish people deserve a say; I will continue to engage with the legislation as it progresses through the houses,” Heneghan said.
Speaking in the Dáil in May, Heneghan was on record as saying, “successive polls have shown a consistent majority in favour of neutrality; when we are discussing the triple lock, we need to be clear what it entails.”
“If there is a specific peacekeeping mission and genuine humanitarian emergency where the Defence Forces are needed, and the UN Security Council is being vetoed – it has vetoed multiple peacekeeping missions for many reasons under P5 – then we should introduce emergency legislation, make a case and bring a Bill to the House.”
The independent TD said at the time, “we have introduced emergency legislation on previous occasions; right now, there is no clear reason to do this.”
“It is as if we are trying to create a deterrent. That is what we should be doing. It is not acceptable. If we are going to do this and are confident that the Irish people want this, we should have a referendum,” he said.