HURRAH! Ireland is preparing to go to war. The Dublin government presumably hopes to re-write Rupert Brooke’s poem and solemnly state that there will soon be some corner of a foreign field that is forever Ireland.

Yes, Micheál Martin is planning to end the requirement for Ireland to have United Nations approval to fight abroad.

Known as the Triple Lock, that safety mechanism is due to be abolished in the Dáil this month, even though President Connolly has described it as being “at the core” of Irish neutrality.

Well, you say, isn’t a democratically elected government entitled to pursue any policy it likes?

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Er, in this case no. In 2001 the Irish electorate rejected the Nice Treaty because many felt it would threaten Irish neutrality.

The then taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, made what he called a National Declaration (yes, he used capital letters) which pledged that Ireland would not abandon the Triple Lock.

On that basis he held a second referendum and his pledge was included in publicity material sent to all voters by the Referendum Commission.

As a result, the electorate supported the Nice Treaty. Now Micheál........

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