Ireland and its neutrality

Sir, – In the recent consultative forum on International Security Policy there was a lot of discussion from Government- appointed panel members on removal of the triple lock so as to allow Irish Defence Forces personnel to serve on overseas missions that do not have a mandate from the United Nations. This would include Nato and European Union missions.

The US/Nato-led occupation of Afghanistan ended in chaos in August 2021 with up to a quarter of a million people killed; 226 Irish soldiers served with these Nato missions over a 15- year period.

In Conor Gallagher’s book, Is Ireland Neutral?, Gallagher records details of an interview with retired Lieut Col Ray Lane (page 135), who served as a bomb disposal expert with Nato in Afghanistan, in which he says that Lieut Col Ray Lane: “was also involved in the more aggressive side of the response; helping to track down and kill Taliban bombers. This included assisting US forces in directing airstrikes against targets responsible for IED attacks.” This suggests that a senior Irish officer from a neutral country was involved in the killing of Afghan soldiers who were fighting to free their country from foreign occupation.

Britain’s Prince Harry is reported to have written in his autobiography that he had killed 25 Taliban soldiers.

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The Irish Defence Forces, Óglaigh na hÉireann, owes its origins to the freedom fighters who fought to free Ireland from foreign occupation. Yes, the triple lock should be amended, to ensure that Dáil Éireann and UN approval is needed for any number of Irish soldiers to be sent on foreign missions. – Yours, etc,

EDWARD HORGAN (Commandant retired),

Castletroy,

Co Limerick.

Sir, – As an advocate for Irish neutrality I favour much more money and effort being spent on positive work for peace internationally (dealt with in a submission to the Consultative Forum on International Security Policy), not the “cut price” policy which Daragh McDowell (Letters, July 3rd) accuses neutrality supporters as backing.

And will he admit that getting close to Nato, participating in an EU army, and something like the current US armed forces’ use of Shannon Airport, actually make Ireland a target? – Yours, etc,

ROB FAIRMICHAEL,

Irish Network for Nonviolent Action Training and Education.

A Chara, – What self-respecting nation wishes to be neutral but then is content to permit pilots from another nation to put their bodies on the line by overflying another’s territory? – Yours, etc,

DAVID McCARTER,

Co Down.