Sir, – Rob Fairmichael (Letters, April 21st) writes that my view that “Clearly, a united Ireland would require Nato membership for the whole island” (Letters, April 19th) is a “non sequitur”.
A border poll on unity can take place within Northern Ireland when the Secretary of State believes a majority exists there for unity. Should a majority vote for change, the British government would then initiate the process of negotiating a united Ireland.
If this were to come about, there is no way the UK, the US or other Nato members (mostly EU states) would accept Northern Ireland leaving Nato, not to mention the people of Northern Ireland themselves.
On the foundation of Nato in 1949, the then minister for external affairs Seán MacBride (a former chief of staff of the IRA), said the new state would become a full charter member of Nato the day after partition ends.
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There is nothing more certain than that a united Ireland would entail full Nato membership for the new state.
In 1949, MacBride tried unsuccessfully to negotiate a bilateral defence agreement with the US.
Ireland’s cyber-security, environment and stable communications infrastructure, on which much of our new-found wealth depends, needs to be defended against external threat.
Perhaps it is time to consider a bilateral agreement with Nato on the basis that Dáil Éireann could, by resolution, call on Nato for assistance, if needed. In return, the Dáil could decide how to assist Nato states under attack, on a case by case basis.
This would give the Republic defence and security cover and leave membership of Nato to be resolved if and when a united Ireland evolves. There are medium-term to long-term plans for the reform of the Defence Forces. In the meantime, we need to secure the State against external aggression. – Yours, etc,
GAY MITCHELL,
(Former TD and MEP),
Dublin 6.