Ms Niamh Ní Bhriain:

No, I do not agree. I do not agree on military deterrence. We are a small island nation. We can never defend ourselves militarily and it would be a disaster if we tried. At the moment, the Government is talking about acquiring fighter jets - eight, but potentially up to 14 - that would be stationed on the runway at Shannon Airport. I am from County Clare. It does not make me feel safe that there would be 14 fighter jets on the runway at Shannon Airport. If Ireland were to be attacked, the first place that would be attacked is precisely those 14 fighter jets. They would be taken out. If you get into the logic of thinking that you can defend yourself militarily and that having military power or might is a deterrent, then you get into this logic where you are increasing that all the time such that we would eventually need to acquire a nuclear bomb, essentially. That is the road you are going down if you start to think that by arming up and being militarily superior, you will somehow be able to protect yourself.

Ireland’s only defence is our neutrality. It is to make ourselves a place where we are not likely to be targeted. If we become a military force, we are much more likely to be taken out. If we are not a military force, if we do not signify a threat to anyone, and we use our place in the world to build peace, then we are much more likely to be left alone.