Letters to the Editor: Ireland will have to beef up its spend on defence

'We cannot hope to be strong enough to act in isolation from our partners

'Our failure to develop armed forces capable of defending our “neutrality” unlike “heavily armed” Switzerland, and indeed Finland and Sweden as neutrals, makes a mockery of our claim to be such, and has resulted in our effective dependence on Nato for our ultimate security.' File picture: Brian Lawless/PA

As one of those who has, until recent geopolitical shifts, supported “policy traditions that have ensured security for well over half a century”, and having no connection with any of the organisations criticised by the authors, I would take issue with some of the points raised by Patrick Bresnihan and Rory Rowan in your paper.

In the first instance, I would suggest Ireland has never been truly neutral, but has rather adopted a policy of non-membership of Nato or any EU common defence arrangement, should such be adopted.