Sir, – Further to “Ireland to scrap triple lock preventing Irish troops from deployment without UN approval, says Tánaiste” (News, November 22nd), if the Government gets rid of the triple lock preventing our troops deploying as part of an EU/Nato engagement, we will never be a neutral country again. – Yours, etc,
BARRY ROONEY,
Ashford,
Co Wicklow.
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Sir, – US military associated aircraft are still using Shannon Airport and Irish airspace to support military actions in Ukraine and the Middle East. On November 20th, a German Luftwaffe Nato transport aircraft landed and spent an overnight at Dublin Airport. The following day, Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin TD announced that the Government was moving to remove the triple lock. On January 12th, 2023, the Department of Defence issued a press release stating that the Government approved the participation by the Defence Forces in a German-led EU Battlegroup in 2024/2025. This will involve a mechanised infantry company of 174 Defence Forces personnel. If the deteriorating conflict in Ukraine spreads beyond Ukraine’s borders, this battlegroup could be deployed in so-called crisis management operations against Russian forces.
Given that 23 members of the European Union are full members of Nato, this means that Nato has virtually absorbed the EU military structures. Ireland membership of such an EU Battlegroup and military alliance is not compatible with any form of neutrality as defined by international laws.
The press release states that: “the Defence Forces participation in battlegroups supports Ireland’s efforts in securing partners for UN blue hat operations”. Since the end of the Cold War, Nato, including several of the most powerful EU states, have usurped the role of the UN in breach of the UN Charter to wage wars of aggression against Serbia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and elsewhere using bogus excuses like crisis management and humanitarian “responsibility to protect”.
Irish neutrality must be restored and not abandoned. – Yours, etc,
EDWARD HORGAN,
Castletroy,
Limerick.
Sir, – Micheál Martin’s gung-ho campaign to remove obstacles to the deployment of Irish military personnel to overseas conflicts has surprised many. He is regarded as being long in words rather than deeds. Are we witnessing a new dawn? Now if he could find the same enthusiasm for removing the obstacles to people getting an affordable place to live at home, it could be the making of him. – Yours, etc,
JIM O’SULLIVAN,
Rathedmond,
Sligo.