Emergency airlift capability

Sir, – Stephen Collins points out that Ireland needs an emergency airlift capability ("Delusions about our place in the world have taken a hit", Opinion & Analysis, August 27th).

Many have argued that a few Hercules ex-military transport aircraft would fit the bill. Such aircraft would also be capable of conducting long-range maritime patrols off our west coast.

Britain’s RAF will soon be disposing of its 14 relatively new Hercules aircraft.

Several states have already expressed an interest in buying some.

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Is Ireland one of them? Or is Simon Coveney and the Government waiting for a battery-powered Hercules to be developed? – Yours, etc,

KARL MARTIN,

Bayside,

Dublin 13.