Madam, - I refer to John Fitzgerald's letter (Oct 22nd) making a case for conscription in Ireland. Firstly, as far as a comparison with Germany goes, the vast majority of young German men in fact, choose not to undertake military service for personal reasons. The figure currently taking part in military service can sometimes be as low as 17 per cent (according to the Süddeutsche Zeitung Friday October 21st). Those who choose not to undertake military service are obliged to undertake what is known as Zivildienst, which usually means providing some kind of service to the community (working in hospitals or homes for the elderly for example). These figures show clearly that conscription is fundamentally unpopular in Germany.
I also reject the argument that Germany is somehow a "safer" place because military conscription exists here, especially considering the fact that so few young men actually undertake it. Furthermore, I feel just as secure living in Ireland as I do living here.
Secondly, I disagree with the whole idea of conscription on gender grounds. Forcing men to do military service and ignoring the young female population inevitably leads to gender inequality.
Numerous cases have been taken to the constitutional court in Germany on this very issue. Furthermore, claiming that conscription for young men would somehow rid Ireland of anti-social tendencies is false, because it ignores the fact that women can behave anti-socially also.
No compulsory conscription in Ireland please! - Yours, etc,
JENNIFER HEGARTY- OWENS, Ansbach, Germany.
Madam, - The letter from John Fitzgerald advocating conscription to the Irish Army is one of the saddest I have read in a long time.
First of all he implicitly insults the Defence Forces, of whom most of us are very proud, by saying that it should be forced to recruit members who do not wish to serve.
Secondly, he also disgracefully manages to insult the vast majority of Irish young people.
Over the years I have come across thousands of young people who engage constructively and positively with their communities. The real tragedy is that those terrific young people do not receive a fraction of the media coverage given to their less savoury peers. - Yours, etc,
Clr DERMOT LACEY, Beech Hill Drive, Donnybrook, Dublin 4.
