Sir, - I wish to compliment Lt Gen McMahon on his recent articles regarding Ireland's participation in Partnership for Peace. Despite the comments of others, I consider the former Chief of Staff of the Irish Defence Forces as a worthy contributor to this debate, given his vast experience in peacekeeping throughout the world.
I feel we need a referendum on PfP, to hear the opinion of the Irish people on this issue. A referendum campaign would allow all the arguments for and against to be aired publicly so that people can make up their own minds.
Personally I am in favour of Irish participation in PfP. I believe it would enable this country to make a real contribution to the maintenance of peace and stability in Europe. This is my personal view on the matter and I am not speaking on behalf of the Progressive Democrats. As someone with long experience in the Irish Defence Forces, I know the commitment they make on our behalf on the world stage. A proper peacekeeping contribution can be made only in co-operation with other countries. Our soldiers will be effective in peacekeeping missions only if they are able to work with colleagues from other countries, train with them, and engage in exercises with them.
This country has benefited enormously from engagement with Europe over the past 25 years. We must adopt a responsible attitude. We have a powerful vested interest in a stable and democratic Europe and we should be prepared to make some contribution to the maintenance of that stability and that democracy.
We have to ask ourselves straight questions. Have we more in common with countries like Serbia and Tajikistan, which are outside PfP, than with our EU partners such as Sweden and Austria, who are inside it? We should use a referendum to settle the argument about neutrality. Austria, Sweden and Switzerland are all neutral countries and they have joined PfP. The fact is that participation in PfP does not impinge on Irish neutrality at all. - Yours, etc.,
Cllr John Minihan, Loreto Park, Cork.