Representative associations say shrink in personnel could have been halted if improved sea-going patrol duty allowances were introduced

I do not believe that there is any advantage for Ireland in joining Nato in order to solve our defence problems, writes Tom Clonan, but we must invest in our basic defences

A reader responds to an 'Irish Examiner' report on procurement by An Garda Síochána, while others consider issues including neutrality, avian flu, and GAA refereeing 

When asked to choose who they feel closest to, 65% of people in Ireland said they feel closest to Europe, followed by none of the above at 18%, and Great Britain at 12%

“It's somewhat ironic that in recent years some of our ERAs and EAs left the navy to go join the cruise line industry,” said PDForra president Mark Keane.

We all know that young children can slap, kick, and even pinch when they are angry, frustrated, confused, or afraid.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the Irish national flag is being “weaponised by a small minority”. Speaking during a major security conference in Dublin, Mr Varadkar said the tricolour is a symbol of peace and reconciliation.

We will be told there’s no question of joining Nato but our neutrality has to be 'redefined'. Part of that 'redefining' is an ever-closer partnership with Nato through the Partnership for Peace

Despite accusations levelled at panellists on the consultative forums, no one is advocating that we join Nato, writes Declan Power

Michael Higgins Jr said Ireland's neutrality was “essential” to getting elected to the UN Security Council.

The Forum on International Security Policy heard that any one of the UN Security Council’s 'Permanent Five' — the US, Russia, China, UK, and France — can veto Irish peacekeeping missions.

Security forum protest

Micheál Martin tells Consultative Forum on International Security Policy that Ireland should not be 'squeamish' about security co-operation given existing threats such as cybercrime

Forum on international security hears attacks on subsea fibreoptic and electricty cables possible

Tánaiste said there was now a tendency not to address controversial issues over fears protesters would seriously disrupt any form of discussion

Mr Martin engaged with the protesters telling them: "The most undemocratic thing you can do is try to shut down debate which is what you're trying to do."

The matter of Irish military neutrality has rarely had so much airplay

As UCC hosts the first consultative forum on Ireland's security policy, Professor Andrew Cottey goes back to basics 

With the Consultative Forum On International Security Policy beginning at UCC, and an opposition series of meetings already underway, MICK CLIFFORD asks if we are set to put in place another 'Irish solution to an Irish problem'

The dust appears to be settling over President Michael D Higgins’s recent comments on neutrality, the forthcoming consultative forum on international security, and forum chairwoman Professor Louise Richardson.

'Irish Examiner' columnist Jennifer Horgan struck a chord with readers in her piece about loneliness, while other readers consider issues including neutrality, defence, and public health

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the Government has “no hidden agenda” to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato) or reject neutrality, following opposition criticism over the makeup of a forum on foreign policy.

Michael D Higgins

Unless our President knows something I don’t know (always a possibility!), he uttered some terrible rubbish last weekend

Readers mull over the President's remarks about neutrality — and another looks forward to tomorrow's summer solstice with trepidation given the radical climate change we are witnessing 

The Government could find it hard to act on any recommendations made by the forum, writes Elaine Loughlin

Speaking in Killarney today, Mr Harris said Fine Gael had "an excellent" leader and Taoiseach

President Higgins has now moved to clarify the remarks, which a spokesperson said were made 'over the course of a long interview'

President Higgins hit out at the composition of the panels at the Consultative Forum on International Security

Coalition reacts after President Higgins describes Ireland as 'playing with fire' during a dangerous period of 'drift' in its foreign policy

Micheál Martin's comments come after Michael D Higgins said Ireland is 'playing with fire' in a 'drift' of its foreign polict

People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy criticised the line-up of speakers at a forum on international security in Cork next week, claiming multiple speakers 'are on the record as being in favour of joining Nato'

Matt Carthy said the parties of the left should outline the positives to be gained from Ireland remaining independent.

New factors have emerged that make threats to Irish citizens and the country’s economic wellbeing very real.

Ireland continues to hold to a policy of neutrality that is entirely inconsistent with both our national interests and our obligations to partner states in Europe

A debate on where our strategic political alliances place us in the bigger scheme of things is a reasonable and sensible position to adopt

Who doesn’t share Adi Roche’s concerns about another Chernobyl — ‘Ukraine war sees Chernobyl nuclear risk back on centre stage’ (Irish Examiner, February 24)?Although the Ohio train wreck bears comparison; the Fukoshima disasater, obviously, and ...

An ineffective Defence Forces has dire implications for our sovereignty and our responsibility to international security, writes Dorcha Lee

In the Dáil on Thursday, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said that the Government has "no plans to join NATO or any other military alliance"