Sir, – It is timely that Stephen Collins has raised the issue of Ireland's security needs ("Russian aggression should prompt analysis of Ireland's security needs", Opinion & Analysis, February 25th).
While defence is the most existential concern for any country, there are also other important security issues. Energy and financial interdependence are now key features of the global economy. As a result, the EU has had two important “weapons” to confront Russia with.
But every country must have the means to be able to defend itself from military attack and to assume that the latter could never happen to Ireland is simply delusional. – Yours, etc,
JOHN O’HAGAN,
Sandycove,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Stephen Collins shouldn’t be too hard on Mick Wallace.
His position on Russian aggression perfectly reflects the blinkered outlook shared by the greater number of Irish voters and most of the establishment and commentariat. This boils down to seeing every conflict through an anti-American, anti-Nato or anti-Israel prism.
In 2004, the US diplomat George Dempsey wrote about the lack of genuine debate in Ireland. This he put down mostly to the corrosive effect of Irish “neutrality”.
On Thursday afternoon, the UK prime minister Boris Johnson and Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer delivered strong speeches about Ukraine to a packed House of Commons. They were then followed by a long list of MPs.
Simultaneously in Dáil Éireann, Fine Gael TDs Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Alan Farrell were raising with Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney the plight of Ukrainians with Irish links.
The rest of the chamber was deserted, except for three Opposition TDs who looked on in silence.
In the gallery above watching this pitiable scene were members of the Ukrainian community in Ireland. Never did Dáil Éireann look more irrelevant. – Yours, etc,
KARL MARTIN,
Bayside,
Dublin 13.
A chara, – Talk is cheap when facing down tyranny.
In an increasingly erratic world, we simply can’t rely on our US cousins as they struggle to cope with America First populism and corruption. We also need to accept that the clear and present danger to freedom and democracy from the east will only increase in the years ahead. It follows then that we need to support calls for a single EU army that is ready, willing and able to respond to all such threats. – Is mise,
KT O’CONNOR,
London
Sir, – Ukrainians are dying. The democracies of Europe have failed them appallingly. Joe Biden told us what was going to happen but sanctions have been imposed on Russia incrementally and still not fully.
We have hidden behind our “precious” neutrality when the reality is that we need Nato and would look for help if we ever needed it.
Luckily we live on an island as far away from Russia as possible. So we deceive ourselves self-righteously.
It’s gone beyond time for us to reconsider our neutral high-mindedness and join Nato. It’s gone beyond time for us to extend Nato membership to Ukraine. No one wants war but we need the ability to defend ourselves against autocratic dictatorship. We need a European army. – Yours, etc,
EVELYN MADIGAN,
Dublin 6W.
Sir, – No more iPhones for young Russians could yet be what sinks Vladimir Putin. – Yours, etc,
J BERNARD WALSH,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – With a former failed German defence minister as president of the European Commission, the EU’s security is in safe hands. – Yours, etc,
PADDY CORLEY,
Ennis.
Co Clare.
Sir, – The response of the western alliance to the Russian invasion of Ukraine is primarily focused on sanctions to impact the Russian economy, with the apparent belief that Vladimir Putin will be sufficiently cowed and his expansionist ambitions halted.
Is that it? Is there a shred of credible evidence that Mr Putin, who is the absolute ruler of Russia, is in the least bit concerned for the domestic economy or inhibited in any way by these sanctions?
His invasion of Crimea was met with a similar limp response and merely reinforced his view of the vacuity of the western alliance. – Yours, etc,
TOMÁS FINN,
Cappataggle,
Ballinasloe,
Co Galway.
Sir, – I fully understand that Nato cannot send troops to Ukraine. This would potentially escalate the situation to an unimaginable level of bloodshed. However, what is the point of billions and billions being spent on defence by Nato if it cannot go and assist Ukraine? Russia seems to have decided that even the threat of nuclear war isn’t a deterrent to invading a sovereign democracy. – Yours, etc,
MARY BARRETT,
Raheny,
Dublin 5.
A chara, – We should apply for Nato membership immediately. Yes, we are in the EU but it has no meaningful defence force at present. We have seen, in recent years, that US protection for us and indeed Europe is no foregone conclusion, depending on the White House incumbent. We have also seen very recently the total unpredictability of politics in Europe as Ukraine is pitilessly offered diplomacy and sanctions as a bulwark against an unprovoked attack.
It is shameful that we in the West are dithering over excluding Russia from the Swift interbank payment facility. As a minimum, this needs to be done immediately. – Yours, etc,
PHILIP McCABE,
Dublin 16.