Sir, - John Gormley (December 3rd) found the tone of my November 20th letter "hectoring". Perhaps the upset to his sensitivities is due more to the fact that my letter was concerned with exposing inaccuracies, misrepresentations and misinterpretations which led him (and a few others) to adopt a view of the Amsterdam Treaty which is not justified by its content.
I note that Mr Gormley will be "expecting a mature debate . . . " on concerns raised by the Treaty. I applaud that: that is why the European Movement has already initiated a series of debates, seminars and briefings on the provisions of the Treaty all around the country.
Mr Gormley's difficulties about a "perception gap" (whatever that may be) in debating with me is a matter entirely for himself. For myself, I have no difficulty whatsoever in debating issues of security and foreign policy while believing passionately in the need for total nuclear disarmament. I am not alone: most Irish people would take the same view. Even the presidents of the two largest nuclear powers in the world can realistically discuss nuclear disarmament.
Mr Gormley recognises that "the complete merger of the WEU into the EU will not happen with this stage of European integration." Thankfully, Mr Gormley's view on this matter removes one of the non-issues raised up to now by opponents of ratification. I hope that means that we have now heard the last of it.
He is wrong, however, in alleging that, even without any such merger "Ireland will be co-operating - under the Amsterdam Treaty - in, among other things, combat tasks with the nuclear WEU". He alleges that that part of the Petersberg Tasks described as "tasks of combat forces in crisis management, including peacemaking" is just another term for waging war.
These contentions are wrong for two reasons. First, the involvement of any member state in any such tasks would be, as the text of the Amsterdam Treaty makes clear, entirely at the option of that member state. The rather complex provisions of the Treaty are especially designed to ensure that no member state is obliged to engage in such an action if it does not wish to do so.
Second, the Petersberg Tasks do not constitute "making war": they are specifically designed to prevent war. The current UN operation in Bosnia (in which Ireland participates) conforms to the definition of the "Petersberg Tasks". The UN operation in Somalia was a peace-making task, in which Ireland (rightly, in my view) participated.
I repeat my contention that predictions by opponents to previous European treaties to the effect that they would infringe on our neutrality have proven to be entirely unfounded. Had there been any reality in those predictions, we would not now be arguing about effects on our neutrality. Predictions to the effect that the Amsterdam Treaty will infringe our neutrality are just as unfounded as those made in connection with previous treaties.
I sincerely hope that, having read this reply, Mr Gormley will feel, not hectored, but informed. - Is mise le meas,
From Alan Dukes, TD
Chairman, European Movement, Nassau Street, Dublin 2.