Defence Forces taking part in EU missions without triple lock 'could breach neutrality'
Prof Ray Murphy told the Oireachtas defence committee that provisions in the Defence Bill 2025 could run the risk of Irish Defence Forces becoming 'embroiled in something' that had not been envisaged. Stock picture
Ireland's Defence Forces could become embroiled in peacekeeping missions that could jeopardise Ireland’s military neutrality if Government proposals to scrap UN authorisation for such deployments is passed, an Oireachtas committee has heard.
Ray Murphy, a professor at the Irish Centre for Human Rights, University of Galway, said if Ireland took part in an EU force without a UN mandate — with the monitoring and controls coming with that — it could end up in situations not originally envisaged that would end up breaching our neutrality.
