A courageous move by two TDs

I applaud the symbolic attempt by TDs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace to inspect two Hercules C130 transport aircraft at Shannon airport.

The failure of the State authorities to ascertain the presence or otherwise of weapons on such flights is a source of great concern, given our ostensible — and legally binding — neutrality.

I am not in any way anti-American, but as an Irish citizen I resent the fact that large numbers of military planes use Shannon and can do so without as much as a whimper from the forces of law and order or the government when reasonable and urgent questions are raised as to what, if any, war materials or detained terrorist “suspects” might be on board.