Sir, – Conor Hogarty (Letters, September 18th) is quite correct to highlight Ireland’s vulnerability across a range of vital services because the Government has failed to properly equip and train our Defence Forces.
I suspect this is because the Cabinet chose to “hide behind” our status as a neutral country. This is a serious mistake because we have a desperate need to be a strong, highly skilled neutral country for the following reasons.
We must be able to police our own territorial skies and seas. In the case of our seas not only must we look after our sub-sea cables, but also the growing number of offshore wind farms which are critical sources of green energy.
Given that our politicians keep stating the country is awash with cash, the forthcoming budget should address this alarming weakness in Ireland’s security. – Yours, etc,
Ann Ingle: Deliberately going out of my way to move for no particular reason has never appealed to me
Gerry Thornley: How about an alternative look at Ireland’s Six Nations win over England?
Is Ireland anti-Semitic, an outlier of tolerance or in the middle ground?
How risky is it to buy a second-hand EV?
MIKE CORMACK,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – I would point Conor Hogarty to a song by the Dubliners from the 1960s called The Irish Navy. Nothing has changed here while the world changes around us. – Yours, etc,
DON MULLINS,
Ballycarney,
Co Carlow.
