Sir, – There is a growing sense that our Government is softly conditioning the Irish people towards abandoning our military neutrality. Support from visiting military figures and a variety of European interests suggests Ireland is defenceless.
They imply that Ireland should feel a sense of national inferiority for enjoying the membership benefits of the economic union of Europe without contributing to a collective military framework.
A senior Government Minister attending this year’s Munich Security Conference stated that “neutrality doesn’t mean standing apart from others”. Yet surely the legal and moral essence of a country’s neutrality means precisely that it stands apart from others?
If our leaders regularly witness the obscenity of global conflicts on their screens just as our citizens do, the question is why would they not want to stand apart? Our neutrality surely should be a badge of honour.
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During Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the EU, much discussion on military security can be expected. However, distant observers in Moscow and Beijing may not appreciate the political nuances of Ireland aligning itself with and chairing European military security discussions.
The people of Ireland must protect our neutral status before it is quietly eroded or bargained away. Austria, Malta and Switzerland have preserved neutrality within their constitutions.
Given a rising threat of war and rumours of nuclear conflict on Europe’s eastern flank, the State similarly should take the initiative now for a referendum to permanently enshrine neutrality in the Irish Constitution. – Yours, etc,
SEÁN DAVIN,
Ballsbridge,
Dublin 4.
Sir, – Reports that Ireland is relying on foreign military hardware, including a Royal Navy warship and a British submarine-monitoring helicopter, to provide security during the EU presidency have raised many eyebrows, with security experts wondering to what extent Ireland is taking ownership of its own national security amid the turbulent geopolitical and security climate.
People Before Profit’s Paul Murphy, however, was moved to ask how this arrangement is compatible with neutrality, and to suggest that policy is undermined by Ireland’s “deepening military co-operation with Nato militaries”.
Given that we only hear from the Opposition on security and defence matters when it is to lambaste Nato, to undermine support for Ukraine in its war against Russia or to lament the (apparently spontaneous) “militarisation” of the European Union, I have to ask what alternative security arrangements would they put in place during the EU presidency?
Can they provide some detail on what threats they believe we should be concerned about, and what hardware they would use to monitor and deter them? Sinn Féin in particular must be uncomfortable with this arrangement, so what is their alternative? – Yours, etc,
DAVE McGINN,
Naas,
Co Kildare.
Sir, – Ireland’s EU presidency has once again highlighted the pitiful commitment to our nation’s defence. Ireland must rely on Britain and France to provide cover for key meetings, as our own Defence Forces do not have the capability to do so.
The Minister for Defence, Helen McEntee, has recently boasted about how the Government is increasing expenditure on defence. Ireland’s defence budget in respect of GDP is approximately a 10th of our European neighbours.
McIntee’s proud announcements are akin to a person needing a garden wall and being delighted that they have bought a second brick. – Yours, etc,
PAT BOYLE,
Blackrock,
Co. Dublin.
