Britain has no claim to our sovereign air space

Will other EU nations not help a small, fellow state being bullied? The Irish Republic deserves that support.

Not everyone in Britain is concerned with having control over the air space of the Irish Republic — but enough are so worried as to make me profoundly concerned.

This country is a sovereignty and we are citizens of the Republic of Ireland. Are we not about to commemorate the centenary of its declaration in 1916. We might do plenty of commerce with Britain — it is a near-neighbour — but we have greater reach and expectations, achievements and potential than being under Britain’s domestic security.

Our air space, and access to air routes, should be serious Government concerns for the citizens of the Irish Republic. We are on an island. And we must ensure that air access is available to all on this island.

How would it be if British security announced a crisis at Heathrow under their COBRA Committee and, because they had come to regard us as of their ‘national hub’, sent a Hercules of troops over here to ‘secure Dublin Airport and all approaches’ in 2016?

Tom Ryan

The Forts

Dún Bleisce

Co Limerick