Does Ireland have a defence policy dilemma?

Irish President Michael D. Higgins says the government is ‘playing with fire’ for opening a debate on military neutrality.
It follows discussions over whether Ireland should become a NATO member.
But would that be a good move?
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[@Zappy9518]

I thought the long fight for self determination, was that we could stand on our own two feet, be able to put up some type of fight against an invader. Not rely on Britain, the RAF to do it for us. Makes a joke out of our independence. Fair play to Britain but I'd rather so much that we could defend ourselves without relying our neighbouring island that was historically so destructive to the people of Ireland. I'll say it again though, fair play to Britain. Thank you.

[@bikeman9899]

100%. Independence means ability to defend yourself. The neutrality lobby is well meaning, but deluded. Their argument, taken to its logical conclusion would mean zero spending on national defense.

[@michaeljohndennis2231]

It’s yet more proof that the influence of the British Crown has never really left Ireland, even after 1922

[@richardsalisbury496]

@@michaeljohndennis2231 how is that influence? Ireland has the money for an air force it just choses not to , please think

[@hamadkennedy6295]

@@richardsalisbury496 ireland is neutral and doesn't need an air force the only threat to ireland is enemies of the west attacking the internet cables off the west coast, in which case naval forces matter more than the RAF advocating for military spending when you're already facing a housing crisis is absurd.

[@richardsalisbury496]

@@hamadkennedy6295 ok , that's up to Ireland

[@ScepticalSkeptic]

Whaddaya mean, "Does Ireland have a defence policy dilemma?" The question is, other than relying on the British when things get a teeny-tiny bit tricky, does Ireland have a defence policy? Greetings from Cork.

[@brendanjburns2969]

Also why have Patrick Bury on , as he is a very good military analyst and historian, but he is a retired British Army Officer, why not have a retired Irish Army Officer Enda,

[@michaeljohndennis2231]

And why are we having so many Irish army officers joining the British Army, same with the Irish Air Corps joining the RAF?

[@TinyTaskal]

Does he think nato is going to come help against any cyber attack? Lmfao funny guy. He just going through a mid life crisis wanting to join a gang

[@ciaranbrk]

Yes gaining cyber defense would help us secure our online national infrastructure.

[@charlesd3a]

We are none aligned country so why say "allies" Within his sentence.

[@paulmcwilliams7022]

LMAO Ireland? Neutral? They belong to the E.U.

[@CondeDeBarca]

It's an economic alliance. Has nothing to do with military neutrality

[@eisirt55]

Such a pity that Irelands commitment to UN duty doesn't appear to be what it once was . UN service is a tremendous asset to training and developing operational competence in the Irish Army .

[@butterflyblueshorts]

Very succinct and informative video.

[@michaeljohndennis2231]

In order to maintain Irish Neutrality, Ireland must implement both the Swiss & Austrian models of neutrality in full without being reliant at all to any extent on any other countries for our self defence - otherwise we are no match for any other country that would seek to invade us and we would easily be forced to drop our neutrality and join an EU army or join NATO - there is simply no point in having a policy of neutrality without being able to effectively and robustly defend this policy in Milltary terms

[@eisirt55]

I agree 100%

[@Martini923]

Ireland is a neutral country, the debate was about Ireland and NATO, to remove neutrality it would have to be put forward in a referendum to the people to remove it from the Irish constitution, there is no plans to do so

[@JamesHussey404]

That is a lie removing neutrality would not require a referendum as IT IS NOT IN THE CONSTITUTION and the debate around Irish neutrality is about our security and defence in todays more hostile world. Now before you reply find me the part in the constitution where neutrality is mentioned. BTW you won't find it.

[@CtrlOptDel]

Easy to be “neutral” when you know that if Russian bombers were ever making a bee-line for Dublin, within minutes the skies over Ireland would be filled with Typhoons, F-35s, & F-18s courtesy of the RAF & USAF.

[@bikeman9899]

There is no mention of neutrality in the constitution. Neutrality has achieved mythical status , with no concern for national security.

[@eisirt55]

A neutral country is one which can defend itself . Switzerland is a good example . Irish neutrality is a sham . We are defenless , not neutral. We can't protect our fisheries. We can't combat drug smuggling . We can't police out air space . How can we be taken seriously as a sovereign state .

[@bikeman9899]

​@@eisirt55Exactly. For a sovereign nation, IRL makes very odd choices re defense. No other sovereign nation acts this way.

[@abeonthehill166]

NATO is an aggressive Military / Economic Union moreover, the Irish need to keep out of this Club . As for a Cyber attack is concerned, NATO membership will not help protect your Internet .

[@brendanjburns2969]

We have nothing to offer NATO ,

[@jimmyryan5880]

They never talked about Irish defence. They talked about what other countries want and how we should be embarrassed and how we need to change education so kids aren't proud of neutrality. That's what gets me about these finger wagging arguments, what kind of military are you suggesting we build and against what threat because we can fight Iceland off with a pointy stick and even with a total war economy would couldn't beat the UK. I don't care if the Russians test the RAFs response time.

[@michaelcraig58]

we dont want you in NATO..most african countris have larger and better equipped armies then IRELAND..your airforce only has 8 fighters and they are propeller planes 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Moc5116]

With the open borders the country will be sunk ,no need to worry about neutrality

[@tedcrilly46]

@@michaelcraig58 Great we're agreed then. Adios shthead.

[@docsnider8926]

As long as the UK defend your airspace and the shipping routes in the north atlantic incl, transmission cables. But never mind, you can always go back to the good old days of Ireland with farming and farming and farming....

[@tedcrilly46]

@@docsnider8926 Russia aint targeting Donegal, theyre targeting UK. Nato/Russia problem. Natos mess, natos job to clean up. Ireland can just allow Russia to be in Irish airspace if you prefer. Russia can cut cables anywhere in the Atlantic. Shipping amd cables benefit everyone, so its a shared responsibility, Ireland accounts for a tiny % of traffic in both cases.

[@tedcrilly46]

We have the EU. Which gives 10s of billions to Ukraine, a non-member. Common security policy guarantees EU reaction for member states.

[@docsnider8926]

You have the EU, which financed the development of Ireland, which is now freeloading as a tax heaven. It is one of the richest contries in the EU now, but is still freeloading on defense and taxes. From a fellow EU citizen: This has to stop. Either one for all and all for one or mind your business in the UK.

[@tedcrilly46]

@@docsnider8926 Ireland is a net contributor to the EU. A contributor to UN peacekeeping, and a contributor to Ukraine. Ireland is not part of nato, receives nothing from nato, so owes nato nothing. Ireland has broken no tax laws. Retaining our low corporate tax was part of Irelands conditions for joining EU, EU agreed to this condition. GDP is not a good basis for calculating national wealth. Ireland is around average EU household wealth.

[@bikeman9899]

There is no EU guaranteed security policy. You are confusing the EU and NATO

[@tedcrilly46]

@@bikeman9899 but who wants to fafo.

[@A-10Thunderbolt-lk7ul]

NATO would not accept Ireland. Ireland does not have anything to offer the alliance.

[@hamadkennedy6295]

the largest number of internet cables on the planet runs directly off ireland's west coast so, not sure i agree with you 100% on your policework there

[@Gabrielland150]

The way Russia is portrayed as bad guy is laughable.

[@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935]

It should be portrayed as Satanic.

[@bikeman9899]

OK Ivan. Time for another shot of vodka and a wee lie down.

[@Augh98-nt2zn]

Comments are being removed by these cowards.

[@gunz5628]

No to nato!!!