Letters

Triple lock, defence and neutrality

Foreign policy

Sat Nov 26 2022 - 00:14

Sir, – Brendan Butler writes: “The Fine Gael party should focus its energy on reforming the many deficiencies inherent in the UN organisation” (Letters, November 25th).

So we should wait for some magical reform of the UN brought about by the heroic warriors in the Fine Gael party before taking control of how we pursue our neutrality? I admire Brendan Butler’s confidence in Ireland’s ability to change the UN, but that we should wait out the years, decades and perhaps centuries before we allow ourselves to dissent on even one position of the UN is absurd. – Yours, etc,

VINCENT MURPHY,

Cork.

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Sir, – It is quite extraordinary that Green Party leader Ryan (News, November 21st) appears to be content that a foreign power, in exercising a veto at the Security Council, can determine our foreign policy in deciding when and if Irish peacekeeping troops can serve in areas of conflict. There was always a deep flaw in this policy and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while holding a seat on the Security Council, ought to mean that the policy is now wholly discredited.

Moreover, this policy would appear to be in conflict with Article 6 of the Constitution, which provides that “All powers of government . . . derive . . . from the people whose right it is to designate the rulers of the State . . . and to decide all questions of national policy”.

It is therefore the government and Dáil, elected by the people, that determine national policy and a government cannot abrogate its responsibility to an outside agency in conflict with the wishes of the people as manifested by a decision of a government and Dáil.

Is there any other sovereign nation that allows its foreign policy to be decided other than by itself ? – Yours, etc,

PAUL WALSH,

Skerries,

Co Dublin.