Funding the Defence Forces

Sir, – Gerard Howlin’s excellent article reviewing the inadequate state of our Defence Forces is an overdue wake-up call for the Government (“Neutrality a hardnosed responsibility, not a romantic notion”, Opinion & Analysis, December 13th).

In fairness, Minister for Defence Simon Coveney has recognised these shortcomings. However, the concern must be that it will be years before we can police our airspace and territorial waters. In the meantime, we’ll have to rely on our near neighbour and the EU.

Efficiently armed neutrality is safer than partially armed neutrality. – Yours, etc,

MIKE CORMACK,

Kamala Harris is a descendant of an Irish slave owner in Jamaica

---

I went to Center Parcs abroad. Was it any cheaper than Ireland?

---

Ukraine’s street pianos play on a decade after debuting during Maidan revolution

---

Fine-tuning the Galway team began at the back of a classroom 35 years ago

---

Blackrock,

Co Dublin.