He will do nothing to accelerate the proper defence of Ireland as it doesn’t get votes, yet!

If people’s Instagram, Facebook, X and dare I say it Bluesky all go down, watch the defence spend rocket.

But critics argue that Ireland, awash with cash from a corporation tax bonanza paid by global firms with big operations in the country, is using its neutral status to duck its 21st-century responsibilities.

Don’t miss today’s fascinating Big Read by @judewebber.bsky.social and @helenwarrell.bsky.social on #FTEdit 👉 on.ft.com/4ikI6EN

It’s incredible this is still going on. Do what the rest of Europe does. Bring in contractors to supplement your military staff. It’s not rocket science but yet the dithering continues

A clap on the back is six inches away from a kick in the arse

Seems it’s already been shot down by the EU.

Bar Victor Orban, all EY appears to have rejected the plan, thankfully

bsky.app/profile/vond...

Even with all these events taking place and the Irish EU Presidency right around the corner, there is a distinct lack of urgency to plug any of the gaping holes.

Are we in the midst of the Ostrich Policy or the Fingers Crossed policy??

How this links to Ireland is even worse. If as you say (which I agree with) Europe is very exposed if this deal goes ahead, Ireland is even worse due to the current state of the Defence Forces and the extremely slow process of re-equipping and enlargement.

We are so far behind it’s scary

Where does that leave the rest of Europe?

Moscow gets to keep what they have taken, and then some
More. Sanctions lifted and brought back into the G8.

They get to rebuild their economy and Military and presumably will go again in a few years, this time with no US interest in European security!

Excellent letter and well spelt out. Simple analysis like this is sometimes the best.

We are so far behind after decades of underinvestment that it’s nearly impossible to catch to a position where this state could defend itself on its own.

Still no Primary Radar, still no air policing capability, as far as I know still no sonar capability.

The new Minister is in a part time role which means the Sec Gen is still the one in charge, so nothing at all will change regarding pace of procurement and modernisation

It sure has, and it won’t tolerate a State living under the security umbrella of other tax payers when we refuse to fund our own security and play our part!

We can still be Neutral in that regard, we just need to be able to stand on our own two feet.

Nice pipeline you have there Victor, shame if something happened to it!

We are not increasingly becoming, we ARE the soft underbelly and have been for many years.

Ireland is not a pacifist State and never have been. We are Neutral (in Irish Terms) which means we are not part of any Defence alliance.

We are NOT Neutral in terms of International Law, Geneva & Hague

Nice oil pipeline you have there Victor, shame if something happened to it!

As DT said, Hungary has no ports 🫣

Will the Political class care about Irelands National Security or still face inwards towards the Parish Pump???

I don’t agree with her at all, especially the views you’ve mentioned, but you can’t tar everyone with the same brush.

We don’t know why the turnout was so low as no one has asked those that didn’t turn out. To say it’s because they were happy with CCs politics is a little simplistic though.

She received about 26% votes of the eligible voting population, this was not a landslide! it was an election that also saw the highest proportion of deliberately spoiled votes.

I believe, but stand to be corrected, that it was also the lowest turnout for any Presidential election.