Sir, – Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney is quoted as saying that there is "theoretically a problem" with our participation in peacekeeping operations with the United Nations ("Changes to triple-lock defence protocol not 'a big priority', Coveney says", News, April 5th). Our policy states that our participation can be blocked by a veto from any one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. This includes two great autocracies, Russia and China.
I would suggest that this is not a theoretical problem but an actual one.
As a country marking 100 years of our independence, how can we justify a situation where a decision on our participation on peacekeeping is subject to a veto from a warmonger?
An immediate change in this policy is clearly required on its own merits, but would also offer some measure of solidarity to the victims of Russian aggression. – Yours, etc,
Rev TONY MURPHY,
Carrigaline,
Co Cork.