Declan Power: Ireland must develop security partnerships and leverage existing arrangements

Despite accusations levelled at panellists on the consultative forums, no one is advocating that we join Nato, writes Declan Power

Badges of staff members in a Nato aircraft. Ireland can pursue security partnerships without the need to join Nato. Picture: Ina Fassbender/AFP via Getty Images

Had most of the protesters at the consultative forums this week decided to stay around for the modules that focused on tangible security challenges facing Ireland, they might have been able to learn something.

The fact of the matter is, despite the accusations levelled at all of us who are panellists on these consultative forums, no one is advocating that we join Nato, myself included, and I have worked closely with them on a number of occasions.