Sir, – I note that the upcoming forums on Ireland’s neutrality will be held in Cork, Galway and Dublin. What about the northern part of the country? Do they believe, perhaps, that people “up here” may be prejudiced in some way? Or did they glance at a map and stick to the railway tracks? – Yours, etc,
PETER DECLAN O’HALLORAN,
Belturbet,
Co Cavan.
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A chara, – When is a forum not a forum? The Oxford English Dictionary defines “forum” thus: “A place of or meeting for public discussion . . . which provides an opportunity for conducting a debate”. So how is the forthcoming Consultative Forum on International Security Policy to be taken seriously when, for instance, a session entitled “Ireland’s Engagement with Nato Through Partnership for Peace” will be addressed by a panel consisting solely of speakers in favour of continued Irish participation in this not uncontroversial arrangement, with no opposing speaker?
The speakers, the gov.ie site informs us, will be James Mackey, Director of Security Policy and Partnerships, Nato; Roberta O’Brien, Irish Naval Service (currently on secondment to Nato Defence Capacity Building Unit); and Prof Andrew Cottey, holder of the Jean Monnet Chair in European Political Integration, UCC. It can safely be assumed that the first two speakers, since they work with Nato, must be favourable toward Ireland’s continued participation in the seriously misnamed Partnership for Peace. The third speaker, Prof Cottey, has written the following: “if, as the 2015 Irish defence White Paper argues, Nato is now the military ISO, cooperation with Nato is important, arguably even essential, if the Irish Defence Forces are to be able to operate alongside other advanced militaries, including in peacekeeping operations”. That is an unambiguous endorsement of continued Irish participation in Nato’s Partnership for Peace. Surely, then, the outcome of this “debate” is a foregone conclusion. – Is mise,
DOMINIC CARROLL,
Ardfield,
Co Cork.