Sir, – Joe Cleary worries that the lack of a Swedish embassy in Ireland (October 18th) amounts to a lack of recognition by Sweden of our State. Mr Cleary should note that when Ireland's need was dire, the Swedes (along with the Danes and those pesky, friendly Brits) stumped up over €1 billion in bilateral loans to us.
The absence of a full-time ambassador or staff did not seem to limit Swedish solidarity as our economy crashed.
The recent recalibration in the Swedish foreign service was designed to deliver more efficiencies in the wider context of our joint membership of the European Union. A grand pile on embassy row in Dublin seems counterintuitive to investing in 24/7, 365 diplomatic resources where they can make a true difference.
In making its diplomacy smarter and soft-power reach longer, we could learn from much from Sweden’s example. – Yours, etc,
JAMES F DUNNE,
Harold’s Cross,
Dublin 6W.