Sir, – I think that Joe Murray (Letters, October 29th) is confusing a policy of neutrality with a policy of inaction and impotence.
Strongly neutral countries like Sweden and Switzerland maintain their air forces not only to defend their neutrality but to police and protect their airspace.
At present the Irish Air Corps has a few single propellor-driven trainer aircraft which are totally incapable of catching up with a modern jet airliner. In an emergency we would have no way of reaching, never mind intercepting an unresponsive airliner in Irish airspace.
A modern jet fighter capability for Ireland is long overdue. We cannot continue with our present policy of just hoping that our British friends would help us out in an emergency.
– Yours, etc,
GREG CARLEY,
Killiney,
Co Dublin.