Sir, - It is disappointing to see leading politicians seeking Ireland's membership of military alliances without debating our own defence responsibilities.
I would like to see our own Defence Forces properly funded to protect Ireland's land, sea and airspace. I would like to see Ireland developing its peacekeeping role. It appears it cannot fulfil either role effectively because Irish people ignore our own defence responsibilities. This neglect and lack of acknowledgement of our Defence Forces is dangerous. For example, it is remarkable that the RUC, albeit not a military force, has 12,645 members, and the Irish Defence Forces have 11,500 members.
It appears that we are incapable of defending our airspace; we lack ships and sailors to monitor and protect our marine territory; and our Army lacks young people and modern equipment. A properly funded and trained force is necessary for Ireland's defence and it could also be a leading advocate of peacekeeping, according to our interests. We are a small island community in the Atlantic Ocean. Do we really want to be associated with any nuclear military alliance when we could develop our own peaceful partnership with the world? - Yours, etc. Shay Fennelly,
Westport, Co Mayo.