Sir, – Cormac Spencer (Letters, May 31st) concludes “we should hold firm to our neutrality for Ireland’s sake”. This is perfectly acceptable, provided we maintain our Defence Forces to the highest possible standard. Our Defence Forces are short of personnel, training, and equipment. We are unable to police our own skies and territorial waters. To give our neutral status the necessary standing, it is imperative the Government uses some of its bulging coffers to modernise the Defence Forces. – Yours, etc,
MIKE CORMACK,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.