Wake-up call on security

Sir, – The three letters (Finland and Nato membership, April 8th) are a serious wake-up call to our Government on the future security of Ireland.

We claim to be neutral but this is used as a smokescreen by the Government to avoid paying for a modern, well- equipped defence force.

In the second World War a number of Scandinavian countries claimed neutrality but that was ignored by Hitler’s forces. Fast-forward to the present and we know Russia considers Ireland a weak link on the West’s flank. At present we cannot police our own territorial skies and seas, and therefore have to rely on our nearest neighbour.

Surely the time has come for our Minister for Defence to secure sufficient funding to ensure better training, more advanced equipment and better pay and conditions? Our defence personnel, in every function, must feel they are part of an elite, well-respected defence force. – Yours, etc,