Sean O'Riordan: Neutral or Nato? It's time to give the public a say

Are our military policy shifts in foreign countries part of moves which could effectively kill off our neutrality? Defence Correspondent Sean O’Riordan examines Ireland’s growing closeness to Nato

The George Bernard Shaw amongst others docked at the naval base in Haulbowline on Saturday, April 1st. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

In the context of the ongoing personnel and logistical difficulties currently challenging the Irish Defence Forces, there are two questions that beg to be asked.

Firstly, when examining the crisis facing our navy, when staffing numbers are so low, we can’t put ships to sea to protect our own waters, why should we then send a ship to Libya?