Sir, – Michael O’Dywer states “the UK and our EU partners rightfully expect us to take the security of these islands and Europe seriously” (Letters, February 18th).
Since when have we the duty to militarily protect “these islands” and Europe?
While we as a nation have the duty to protect Irish national security, it certainly does not extend to assuming responsibility for the defence of Europe or to bolstering a weakened “Atlantic Alliance”.
Surely O’Dywer is exaggerating when he states our lack of military capacity “constitutes an enormous weakness in European security”.
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As a sovereign European nation we are playing our rightful part within the context of the European Union, a role of which we should be proud. However, we should not allow ourselves to be bullied into a military union. – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN BUTLER,
Drumcondra,
Dublin 9.
Sir, – As Seamus McKenna so eloquently stated last Tuesday, “no aggressor nation in history, right up to the present day, has ever respected the desire of a pacifist country not to be invaded” (Letters, February 17th). While the welfare of our population is paramount, if we cannot defend ourselves, the latter would be irrelevant. For some people to insist our neutrality is sacrosanct is at the very least naive – with the onward march of Artificial Intelligence and its use in the development of modern weaponry, we are completely exposed.
We as a nation cannot expect Nato to protect our airspace and seas. The time is long overdue for us to step up to the mark and meet our obligations to ourselves and our neighbours. This is not fearmongering as some will insist, it is a practical reality – just look at what is happening to Ukraine nightly. – Yours, etc,
VINCENT CARROLL,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 14.
