Sir, – Your editorial (July 3rd) states that "Ireland faces a big decision on EU military cooperation". The Lisbon Treaty introduced "Permanent Structured Cooperation" (Pesco) that allows member states to buy in or stay out of issues of enhanced cooperation in security and defence.
This is now being used to justify setting up a more formal EU military alliance, led by Germany and France. We were assured that the Lisbon Treaty would be no threat to Irish neutrality, but Pesco represents the Lisbon chickens coming home to roost.
We are once again being presented with Government obfuscation on the meaning of neutrality.
We are told that Irish military neutrality is a nuanced form of neutrality that enables Ireland to breach the most fundamental international law requirements for neutrality while still claiming to be a neutral state. Just to clarify, there is only one form of neutrality recognised in international law and that is “military neutrality”. There is no international law concept or conventions relating to political, economic or diplomatic neutrality.
Just as the Irish High Court ruled in 2003 that allowing large numbers of armed US troops through Shannon airport is a clear breach of international law on neutrality, likewise Ireland participating in an EU military alliance will also breach international law on neutrality.
Some experienced commentators, including former Irish ambassador to the UK Ray Bassett, are already suggesting that Ireland should reconsider its EU membership in the light of Brexit. While many who support Irish neutrality, also support our EU membership, if neutrality is to be further eroded, our continued membership of the EU will be called into question. – Yours, etc,
Dr EDWARD HORGAN,
Castletroy,
Limerick.