A Chara, - Andy Storey (Opinion, February 3rd ) is right to say we need an informed debate about Ireland's role in EU defence policy. But he overlooks some important facts.
One is that each EU government has a veto over every single EU operation - that veto power is also enshrined in the new EU constitutional treaty. Although unlikely, if the Irish Government vehemently opposed a particular EU military operation it could prevent it from happening.
Second, there is no obligation on the Irish Government to participate in any EU mission if it does not want to. For example, Ireland did not send soldiers to the EU peacekeeping mission in Macedonia, because China vetoed a UN mandate for that operation for reasons that had nothing to do with keeping the peace in Macedonia. But, even without a UN mandate, the EU was right to send peacekeepers to that country and the operation has been a success. It's a shame that Ireland could not play its part in that success given our tremendous peacekeeping record down the years.
Andy Storey is also right that the EU should be a "force for good" in the world. But what influence can Ireland really expect to have over EU defence policy if it does not fully participate? For instance, Ireland may not contribute soldiers to the EU's "battlegroups" - rapid reaction military units which EU governments have agreed to offer the UN for the critical early stages of future peace operations. This means the Irish Government would effectively have no say over EU defence policy.
Instead, the Irish Government should fully participate in EU defence, to ensure that the EU does help the UN to respond more effectively to conflicts around the world. Surely it is better for Ireland to use its seat at the table than to sit on the fence? - Is mise,
DANIEL KEOHANE, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for European Reform, Tufton Street, London SW1.