Editor:
Irish governments have been determined to abandon Irish neutrality since the end of the Cold War and against the wishes and best interests of the Irish people.
They have been using a step-by-step approach. With each step they repeat the mantra that: "this is not a breach of traditional Irish military neutrality."
The steps included allowing the U.S. military to use Shannon airport for NATO’s war against Serbia in 1999, the U.S.-led wars against Afghanistan 2001 to 2021, the Iraq war 2003, the overthrow of the government of Libya in 2011, conflicts in Syria, Yemen and elsewhere, all in breach of the UN Charter, and of Irish neutrality.
By allowing U.S. military use of Shannon airport since 7th October 2023, the Irish Government is contravening the Genocide Convention Article III (e) which states that "complicity in genocide" is a punishable act.
Our government’s plans to abandon the triple lock by removing the need for UN approval before sending Irish soldiers on overseas mission is a serious breach of solemn undertakings given to the Irish people during the referenda for the Nice and Lisbon treaties.
Abandoning the triple lock seriously undermines the UN and will put an end to the active aspect of Irish neutrality in favour of joining dangerous "coalitions of the willing" including nuclear armed NATO.
Twenty-three of the EU’s 27 member states are full members of NATO. NATO wars in the 21st century have caused the deaths of millions of civilians. NATO countries possess over 4,200 nuclear weapons capable of destroying all life on Planet Earth.
It is vital for all of humanity that Ireland and other neutral countries continue to campaign against this nuclear terrorism and for global peace and justice.
Edward Horgan, Castletroy, Limerick
