Sir, - Brigid Laffan (June 15th), "Dubious assertion of no campaigners need to be challenged," states "the Government could opt to withdraw from the Rapid Reaction Force and thereby ensure that Irish troops could not be used in peacekeeping or humanitarian efforts even if mandated by the UN".
It is rather disingenuous of Ms Laffan to argue that somehow the proposed Rapid Reaction Force will be an instrument of the UN. Has Ms Laffan forgotten that Britain, France and Germany, as part of NATO, intervened in the Balkans without a UN mandate. What I want to prevent is a similar situation occurring under the umbrella of the Rapid Reaction Force?
Hitherto, Irish Defence Forces have only been used with the full moral and political authority of the UN. Signing up to the Nice Treaty in its current form, with all its militaristic implications, only undermines Ireland's long and honourable tradition in peacekeeping. - Is mise,
Sean Whelan, Nenagh, Co Tipperary.