Defining neutrality

JASON FITZHARRIS (Irish Examiner letters, February 5) has a narrow notion of Irish neutrality.

He specifically singles out its wartime manifestation: non-belligerence.

But he rules out its peace-time partner: non-alignment. Yet both are essential.

Ireland’s military neutrality, then, has twin elements: non-war participation and non-alliance membership. To avoid war, we avoid alliances.

Several variants of neutrality can be seen worldwide. Ireland has its own distinctive policy.

Our constitution stipulates the “ideal of peace” and the “pacific (ie, non-military) settlement of international disputes”.

Hence a constitutional commitment to a warless world. For war remains the wrong way, the worst way.

John Antony Barnwell

5 St Patrick’s Road

Dublin 9