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Policy of military neutrality

Government has decided that neutrality means what it wants it to mean

Letters to the Editor. Illustration: Paul Scott
The Irish Times - Letters to the Editor.
Sat Jun 15 2024 - 00:08

Sir, – Conor Gallagher reports that Ireland will be sending dozens of military vehicles to the Ukrainian army over the next few weeks (“Defence Forces donate 30 ‘non-lethal’ military vehicles to Ukraine”, News, June 14th). This is in addition to other supplies and training that have already been provided to Ukraine by the Army.

As always, the transfer of these specialist vehicles is breezily referred to by the Government as “non-lethal” military aid and, hence, supposedly not in breach of this State’s policy of military neutrality. What next? Crates of Steyr rifles with the magazines emptied, thus rendering them “non-lethal”? The bald reality is that Ireland is supplying essential military equipment to an army at war.

The Government has decided that neutrality means what it wants it to mean, and widespread revulsion at Russia’s imperialist invasion of Ukraine is clearly being relied on to avert criticism of a fundamental shift in Irish foreign policy. – Yours, etc,

FINTAN LANE,

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Lucan,

Co Dublin.

Sir, – Paul Williams writes that we might be coming to “the end of our pointless self-righteous neutrality” (Letters, June 14th). Our neutrality is not pointless, but it is in a very run-down state. At present there is some “arrangement” with our nearest neighbour to help police our skies and territorial waters.

This is simply not good enough. We have to be a strong neutral which means we have to invest in more highly trained personnel, and the very latest equipment.

Let’s hope the recent appointment of Lieut Gen Sean Clancy to head up the European Union Military Committee heralds a more realistic approach to our defence responsibilities. – Yours, etc,

MIKE CORMACK,

Blackrock,

Co Dublin.