Rebel TD Neasa Hourigan fears losing the Green Party whip again over her opposition to the neutrality triple lock change.

Neasa Hourigan is currently without the party whip, but is expected to be reinstated in the Green ranks in the middle of next month.

He had the whip suspended last year after voting against a Government motion banning evictions.

The Dublin Central MP fears her position in the party will be at risk again when the Government adopts a double lockdown in the autumn.

A Green Party spokesperson told a briefing last week that the party agreed with Tánaiste Micheál Martin’s plans to remove the need for a UN mandate before Irish soldiers serve abroad.

In addition to UN approval, the other elements of the current blockade involve the Government making a decision followed by Dáil approval.

Giving up the UN mandate would mean that only cabinet approval is needed before a government uses its majority to push through the Dáil a deployment of more than 12 military personnel.

Ms Hourigan said the Green Party policy committee had recently reaffirmed its commitment to the triple lock, while its protection was in the Program for Government.

He predicted widespread unrest in the party – “particularly among its members” – if safeguards were diluted.

Ms Hourigan noted that Greens members, including former leader John Gormley, attended Tánaiste security forums across the country last year and spoke out in favor of maintaining the triple lockdown.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin argues, however, that the current situation effectively gives Russia and China unjustified control – through their blocking capacity – over Irish foreign policy.

Asked how she would vote on the issue if a double deadlock emerges in the autumn on legislation authorized by Cabinet this week, Ms Hourigan said: “I’m not going to commit right now.”

Meanwhile, her sister Niamh, Labor’s European Parliament candidate for the Ireland South constituency, expressed alarm at the plans.

He said the removal of the triple lock would amount to the de facto removal of traditional Irish politics, resulting in “neutrality in name only”.

The current stance is enormously important, he added. “The Government has given no legitimate reason for abandoning this long-standing position. People need to know that Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party cannot be trusted to safeguard Irish neutrality. “As long as neutrality is Ireland’s official position – which can only be changed by referendum – then the triple lock has to be fundamental.”

Neasa Hourigan said the triple lock had already been “effectively backed by several referendums” and added: “It would be a big step to change it.”