Sir, - On RTE's "Morning Ireland" programme of December 10th a representative of PDFORRA argued that this country should become more involved in the collective security of Europe. I agree with this view, but I disagree with his expression of it publicly. If we must have what amount to in-house trades unions in the Defence Forces they should refrain from public utterances on foreign and defence policy.
Policy is a matter for the elected Government, responsible to the Oireachtas. It is not a matter for public political lobbying by organised groups from the armed forces. The military's function is to support the civil power and to execute the legitimate orders of that power. It has an advisory role, of course, but that is limited to the feasibility and implementation of legitimate, politically determined decisions.
In a democracy the military should refrain from attempts to determine the policies to be adopted by the elected Government and even from public debate concerning policy. To do otherwise is to start on a road which leads in the extreme to the spectacle of the current extradition fiasco in London.
RTE might usefully reflect on whether it is serving the public interest by providing air time to permit soldiers to dabble in politics. - Yours, etc., Moore McDowell,
Wasdale Grove, Dublin 6.