Ireland’s lower house of parliament approved by 79 votes to 71 a bill that scraps the requirement for UN approval before Irish troops can be deployed abroad, France 24 reported.

Currently, three steps — dubbed a “triple lock” — must be taken before more than 12 members of the Irish defence forces can be sent on any mission: approval from the government, from parliament and from the UN, the last of which is now set to be scrapped. The legislation also raises from 12 to 50 the number of soldiers that could be deployed without parliamentary approval. Opposition parties warned that the move threatens the country’s longstanding military neutrality.