Armed and neutral: Where’s the hypocrisy?

YOUR editorial (Irish Examiner, January 22) claimed it is hypocritical to be neutral and have an arms industry.

This is inaccurate on two points: firstly Ireland isn’t neutral and, secondly, even if it were, having an arms industry isn’t hypocritical.

On the first point, the internationally accepted definition of neutrality has only ever meant one thing: non-participation in a war between other countries. However, Ireland’s unique interpretation is non-participation in a military alliance.