Peace groups throughout County Galway have labelled as “undemocratic” the actions of the Corporate Policy Group (CPG ) of Galway County Council.
The collective groups that joined to protest outside County Hall on Monday, September 15, claim that the CPG voted to block a motion in defence of Irish neutrality and the Triple Lock mechanism
According to the groups, the motion, due to be tabled by Sinn Féin Councillors at the full Council meeting on Monday, September 22, was ruled out of order after the CPG, claiming it was not relevant to the council’s functions.
This move prevented a debate that would challenge the current FF/FG government’s policy of dismantling Irish neutrality. It follows a wave of similar motions successfully passed by at least seven other local authorities across the island, including Wexford, Cavan, Donegal, South Dublin, Strabane/Derry, and, most recently, Mayo and Louth.
Council rejects Triple Lock changes
A copy of the “scuppered motion” supplied by the Galway Alliance Against War, featured calls for the Council to express its “dismay at and opposition to the Government’s intention to abolish the Triple Lock, which governs the deployment of Irish Defence Forces personnel overseas.”
It read:
“The Triple Lock has ensured that Ireland’s participation in overseas missions would always require approval from the Cabinet, Dáil Éireann and that the mission they are being deployed on would have a UN mandate either from the Security Council or the General Assembly.
“In 2001, the Irish people rejected the Nice Treaty over concerns that it would drag Ireland into EU military structures that would threaten our neutrality. To get the electorate to approve the EU Treaty, the government, with the agreement of the other EU Member States, introduced the Triple Lock through a “solemn declaration”.
“Therefore, this Council rejects the government’s plans to abolish or amend the Triple Lock, considering the proposal signifies a breach of trust with the Irish electorate and a serious diminution of Irish neutrality.”
Standing Order used to block motion
SF councillors were initially told the motion did not “meet requirements” and was not “relevant” to the county, and would “take up too much time.”
It is claimed that neither of these excuses is provided for under Standing Order 31, which is specifically designed to catch motions that are “illegal, irregular, improper or offensive”.
A spokesperson for the groups said that the selective use of standing orders could call into question the fairness and transparency of this democratic process.
“Notably, the Standing Order 31 was not invoked to prevent a previous motion on the Occupied Territories Bill, demonstrating that this is a cynical, politically driven veto.
Neutrality is in “grave danger”
A spokesperson for the pro-Neutrality groups stated, “Seven councils already passed motions, this is coming as a result of people organising at the local community level to protect Irish neutrality in the face of increased global instability and where the government has left us out of the discussion and, more importantly, the decision-making on the issue. The people have simply been excluded on every level.
“Neutrality is about actively promoting peace and opposing war. The United Nations states that neutrality contributes to global peace by prioritising diplomacy, conflict prevention, and mediation. As a neutral nation, Ireland has been a respected voice for peace, a champion of UN peacekeeping, and a leader on disarmament. This proud tradition is now under direct threat.
“Because our neutrality is not in the Constitution, the Triple Lock is the key law that keeps that promise and keeps us out of wars. The government now seeks to dismantle this safeguard without a referendum. That is a grave danger to Irish democracy.
“When the people of County Galway sought to raise this issue through local democracy, the Corporate Policy Group resorted to a cynical manoeuvre.
“To invoke a rule designed for ‘irregular or offensive’ motions to block this debate is a devious ploy, silencing the people of the county and amounting to a blatant subversion of democracy.“Families here deserve to know whether their sons and daughters will serve under the UN flag of peace, or be sent into foreign wars under NATO or EU command.
“Let me be clear, if you choose to scupper the Triple Lock through devious means, the responsibility will rest on your head when Irish men and women return in body bags from foreign wars,” they concluded.
