A navy without ships is a joke

Sir, – Is Ireland about to wake up to the need for a navy worthy of the name? The talk is of closer co-operation with the UK and France, but what can the Republic bring to the table? The naval service has only four operational ships the size of corvettes and there are currently fewer than 850 naval personnel.

Neutrality is one thing. In my view, Ireland has to join Nato. But regardless of any formal alliance, a navy without ships is a poor joke. The Department of Defence should announce it plans to purchase at least two fully armed frigates while, as a matter of urgency, upgrading our existing patrol vessels and equipping them with sonar. Either that, or admit that safeguarding the western approaches is none of our concern, best left to the big boys of Britain and France.

It’s not as if we can’t afford them. – Yours, etc,

WALTER ELLIS,