Sir, – The Defence Forces and Army Ranger Wing should be complimented for their role in the successful evacuation of Irish citizens from Afghanistan.
It is regrettable that their operations were impeded by the absence of organic strategic airlift; Ireland and Malta are the only EU members that do not possess such a capability.
Minister for Defence Simon Coveney has stated that the absence of organic airlift was mitigated by the availability of “seats” provided by friendly nations.
The Minister should note that strategic airlift provides much more than just “seats”. An Air Corps transport aircraft in Kabul would have provided a sovereign base from which operations could be launched in support of Irish interests. It would have facilitated command and control, and would have provided a secure communications hub back to Ireland. It would have provided a medical support base and would have allowed weapons, ammunition, food, water, fuel and other supplies to be made available for operations.
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Critically, an Air Corps aircraft would have allowed the Defence Forces to set its own departure schedule in the event of a deterioration of the security environment, rather than relying on the goodwill of others.
The Minister has stated that these matters will be considered by the Commission on Defence; unfortunately such matters have been the subject of previous studies and recommendations, but the Defence Forces remains critically deficient of basic capabilities.
Now is the time for political leadership and action to ensure that our Defence Forces are properly equipped, not more reports and recommendations.
– Yours, etc,
CJ BARBER,
(Commandant, retired),
Kilquade,
Co Wicklow.