Sir, – Stephen Collins ("Irish delusions about our place in the world have taken a hit", August 27th) raises very relevant questions about the State's capacity to protect and rescue Irish citizens.
The issue is much wider than the Air Corp’s aircraft capacity. The issue is why a prosperous island economy, 100 years after independence, still has an Air Corps and Naval Service and not a full Air Force and Navy.
Almost casually we read recently of a sophisticated foreign “spy” vessel, and of other large foreign naval vessels, basking in the waters off our coast.
In the skies, the RAF polices activity and recently discouraged reported military air intrusions near this island. Has this nothing to do with us? Our unwillingness or inability to rationally debate our policy of military neutrality is now a major problem.
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We do not have Nato cover, and, unlike other European neutral states, we do not equip our defence forces to defend our neutrality.
In an effort to lead reasoned debate, I authored a Fine Gael policy document called Beyond Neutrality, later updated in 1999/2000. The party was the first to promote the policy of becoming a member of a common European Defence from the beginning.
If such an entity were to evolve, by helping to shape its constitution and objectives from the outset and not joining later on terms decided in our absence, is key.
Northern Ireland is part of Nato. Does anybody seriously think that a united Ireland would bring this to an end? Most likely the reverse would happen and, in those circumstances, the new Ireland in its entirety would be in Nato.
The Oireachtas should set about debating these issues, perhaps based on a paper with options prepared by independent experts.
Our Army Rangers and diplomats were very brave in going to Kabul. That sort of bravery needs to be imported to military policymaking by our elected representatives.
– Yours, etc,
GAY MITCHELL
(former minister for
European affairs and MEP)
Dublin 6.