Madam, - Congratulations to Gay Mitchell and the Fine Gael party on their principled and clear policy supporting an end to our sham "tradition" of neutrality as set out in their "Beyond Neutrality" policy document. Finally the party has had the courage to break the all-pervading and stultifying consensus among Irish political parties on this issue.
Fine Gael has leaped ahead in the debate by placing itself at the forefront of a campaign to establish an inclusive European defence policy based on the principles of international law and in the spirit of mutual co-operation with our European colleagues - spirit that as contributed so much to the transformation of the continent in the past 60 years.
We vote for a common parliament, we use a common currency and carry a common passport. Is it not time we defended our democracy, our economy and our citizens? The debate has already started in Europe. Thanks to Fine Gael it should also start here. - Yours, etc.,
RONAN GUCKIAN, Brewery Road, Sillorgan, Co Dublin.