MICHAEL DOHENY,
Sir, - The Defence Minister, Mr Michael Smith, after ruling out the purchase of an interception capability in the weeks after the September 11th attacks, went on to explain that he had to try to balance our needs with what we could afford and that his priorities were helicopters and transport planes.
In giving the go-ahead for the purchase of Sikorsky S-92 medium-lift helicopters for air-sea rescue and troop transport, he has been true to his word. Clearly, the Minister feels that unauthorised incursions into Irish airspace are trifling matters. Indeed, the shuttling of Ministers and their entourages to and from remote locations is of more pressing concern (particularly with elections pending).
In recent times the Irish Air Corps has been used as the Government's own taxi service. The only way the Air Corps is ever going to get an interception capability is if an interceptor aircraft can be designed so that it can airlift cabinet colleagues and their monumental egos at high speed across all types of terrain in all weathers.
It is shameful that a country of Ireland's stature and wealth cannot or will not provide adequately for its own air defence. It seems the Government prefers that Ireland should play a bit-part in a European Rapid Reaction Force.
Is the Republic of Ireland determined to remain a vestigial defence parasite in a NATO-defended North Atlantic zone? - Yours, etc.,
MICHAEL DOHENY,
Dunmore Road,
Waterford.