Helen McEntee rejects criticism over Irish military triple lock removal

Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Helen McEntee has rejected rhetoric regarding the removal of the triple lock system for overseas military deployments, the Irish Examiner and thejournal.ie reported. Speaking from Lebanon during a visit to Irish peacekeepers, McEntee was responding to comments made by former president Michael D Higgins. Higgins had stated in an interview with the Irish Examiner that Ireland was sliding into military alliances and criticised government moves to end United Nations authorisation for foreign missions. [1][2]

McEntee rejected claims that changing the deployment rule forms part of a strategy to abandon neutrality or join NATO, according to the Irish Examiner. As FTMQ News reported earlier, McEntee previously declared that the triple lock system is not working for Ireland. [1][9]

The Irish Times reported that McEntee visited Camp Shamrock, designated UNP 2-45, to meet troops serving in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. The UNIFIL mission is winding down after being established in March 1978, with the United States pushing to end the operation at the UN Security Council. McEntee said the destruction in southern Lebanon by the Israel Defense Forces shows why peacekeepers must stay in the region. [1][3]

McEntee has served as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence since November 2025 and is a Fine Gael Teachta Dála for Meath East. Higgins previously served as president of Ireland before being succeeded following the presidential election in October 2025. [4][6]