Madam, - I support John Gormley (March 26th) in his call "either we define and protect neutrality or we abandon it". The machinations of the current Government over this issue recently have been shameful and embarrassing. As a committed pacifist, I would encourage us to go down the road of defining and protecting neutrality, and that we go one step further and disband our defence forces altogether.
Ireland's military spending is currently less per capita than any other country in the EU, a statistic of which we can be justifiably proud. I firmly believe that we should reduce this military spending to zero.
There are many functions of the current defence forces which are essential and should be retained, but they should be removed of any military trappings. For example the Naval Service could become more like a naval police service. Other functions, such as bomb disposal could be passed to the Gardaí. I would also envisage the setting up of an Emergency Response Corps to assist the other State services at times of disaster such as during flooding, organised and trained along military lines, but without weaponry.
The money the country could save by getting rid of any military pretensions could be channelled into other necessary areas such as more Gardaí or providing a comprehensive air ambulance service.
Many may balk at leaving our county "undefended". However, realistically, our current defence forces are so small, that I do not believe that they would be able to put up any substantial defence against any likely invader. And history shows that for any occupying force to be successful, it must get at least tacit support from a large proportion of the population or it cannot function successfully.
Gandhi and the Indian people have shown the world that there is an alternative to armed resistance.
In the current repugnant and unjustifiable invasion of Iraq, how many lives would be saved and how much less damage would be done to their country if the Iraqis did not try to defend themselves militarily, but instead just refused to co-operate with the invading US and UK forces?
As far as I am aware, only one country in the world has disbanded its military, the Central American country of Costa Rica, where I had the pleasure of living for two years.
Costa Rica is the oldest democracy in Latin America and has not had an army since 1949. It stands out as a beacon of peace and hope in a region that has had a very troubled history.
If we declared Ireland a demilitarised country, there would be no question of military overflights or military aircraft of other countries using Shannon airport.
We would still be able to send out peacekeepers on UN missions to troubled parts of the world, as police rather than soldiers. Without an army we would be able to call ourselves a truly neutral country and stand out as a bastion of peace in a troubled and over-militarised world. - Yours, etc.,
DOMINICK DONNELLY, Ardnaclug Cottage, Innishannon, Co Cork.