Sir, – I am disappointed with Minister for Defence Simon Coveney's statement that Ireland will not be joining Nato any time soon (News, May 17th).
Perhaps, with our lamentably underfunded and underequipped Defence Forces, our Government believes we are not ready to join Nato as we would be more of a hindrance than a help.
Considering that the people of Swords are waiting 15 years for Metro North and are likely to be waiting another 15 years, and that it has taken the Government nine years to make a pig’s breakfast of the ownership of the National Maternity Hospital before a brick has even been laid, it is questionable that our Defence Forces would ever receive the resources to be fit and proper members of Nato.
Therefore, it would be better to join Nato now and allow our defence capability to catch up later. – Yours, etc,
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JASON FITZHARRIS,
Swords,
Co Dublin.