Promoting disarmament is cited as one of five signature policies for Ireland by the Department of Foreign Affairs, and is a wonderful continuation of Frank Aiken’s great work for peace in the UN in the 1950s. His outstanding work there led to the creation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The commitments under this treaty include not to make or acquire nuclear weapons, and to further the goal of nuclear and complete disarmament.
As a member of the EU, one would hope that in our troubled world, Ireland would proudly uphold Frank Aiken’s legacy. Although the government website continues to state that “Ireland continues to play a leading role in efforts to promote disarmament, non-proliferation and the regulation of new weapons”, unfortunately, this is not what is happening. In relation to making or acquiring nuclear weapons, France possesses its own nuclear weapons, and under Nato’s nuclear sharing plan, four EU countries host US nuclear weapons on their soil.
European defence spending in 2023 increased by 10% on the previous year, to a record €279bn, marking the ninth year of consecutive growth. In addition, the EU has provided billions in funding and weapons directly to a country (Ukraine) for the first time.
Ursula von der Leyen stated in 2024 that “the EU-Nato partnership is a cornerstone of our security”, while the Nato website states:
“Nuclear weapons are a core component of Nato’s overall capabilities for deterrence and defence, alongside conventional and missile defence forces.”
There is every chance, as there is no mention of the triple lock in the new programme for government, that Ireland’s foreign policy may be informed by the EU.
Aiken was a staunch supporter of Irish neutrality and greatly upset US president Roosevelt when he refused his request that Ireland join the war. Official Ireland in 2025 seems to have no problem allowing US military planes to use Shannon airport in their wars.
The statement by the Department of Foreign affairs that Ireland plays a leading role in disarmament issues is patently not true. Ireland must fulfil its constitutional obligation to be peacemakers.
The future may not forgive us.
Elizabeth Cullen, Kilcullen, Co Kildare
Predictive text
In 1953, the president and director of the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Co, in San Francisco, Mark R Sulllivan, said: “Just what form the future telephone will take is, of course, pure speculation. Here is my prophecy: In its final development, the telephone will be carried about by the individual, perhaps as we carry a watch today. It probably will require no dial or equivalent, and I think the users will be able to see each other, if they want, as they talk. Who knows but it actually translate from one language to another.”
How close are we to the “final development”?
Mattie Lennon, Blessington, Co Wicklow
‘Messianic’ message
Your front page headline quoting Donald Trump’s words at his inauguration — ‘I was saved by God to make America great again’ (Irish Examiner, January 21) — are frightening in that he has not only a full electoral mandate from the American people but he believes he has been chosen by God as a 21st century messiah to lead America into greatness.
To cement his messianic claim he is personalising the words of Psalm 118:6: “The Lord is at my side, what harm can anyone do to me.”
This alignment of religion and politics, by this US self -proclaimed viceroy of God on earth, is a dangerous mix for the future of America and the rest of our world.
Brendan Butler, Drumcondra, Dublin 9
Protective clothing
Outside the US presidential inauguration people wore protective clothing, mainly coats, to keep warm.
Inside the inauguration hall, some people wore protective clothing, mainly bullet proof jackets, to keep the president safe.
Beside the president, Melania wore protective clothing, a hat, to keep the president away.
Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia
Strong US needed
I read with interest your opinion on the achievements and failures of the Biden presidency — ‘It will take time to fully assess Joe Biden’s legacy as US president’ (Irish Examiner, Leader, January 18).
There is no doubt job creation month on month was a positive, but inflation ran above 5% on average for each year in office, fuelled by rising living costs (housing, energy, education, and health). Real wages went backwards across his presidency. National debt continued to rise and is now US$36,000bn.
The majority of Americans are feeling it in their hip pocket which had more of an impact on the election result than Biden’s decision to run again given his mental decline.
Externally, the shambolic retreat from Afghanistan signalled the decline of the US abroad and American strategic foreign policy.
In Biden’s first three years, Iran generated US$144bn from oil revenue (predominantly to China) — US$100bn more than Trumps last two years in office, as sanctions were relaxed by Biden’s team.
This allowed Iran to effectively re-arm its Middle East proxies such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis which caused havoc with trade in the gulf and also lead to the escalation of the current conflict.
Biden’s mental decline did not just become apparent when he decided he wanted to run for a second term, it happened well before this and is illustrated by his inability to do anything constructive for his country.
Generations to come will be paying off the debt. We need a strong US no matter who is in power.
Neil Lynch, Melbourne, Australia
Authoritarian US
What divides the American population is 75m versus 77m.
That 77m people voted for a convicted misogynistic felon, who denigrates migrants, and threatens economic catastrophe on other nations, is what awaits the world.
Four more years of absolute uncertainty with someone who was to the forefront of an insurrection, and who is vying retribution on those whom he perceives unfairly targeted him.
Someone with unimaginable executive powers, thanks to a partisan Supreme Court, immune from prosecution while in office.
His close association with tech billionaire Elon Musk will, and should, worry global leaders given the reach and influence of social media platforms like X.
Threats of tariffs, mass deportations, and taking back control of the Panama Canal, is akin to authoritarian rulers in Russia, China, the Middle East, or North Korea.
America, the biggest democracy in the world, is now under the cosh of someone whose stamp of authority will not make America great again but will make it an outlier, where other countries and economies will think twice before doing business with a man of his calibre, knowing his pedigree for threats, bluffs and outright lies.
Christy Galligan, Letterkenny, Co Donegal
Restraining disorder
New guidelines will come into effect in September on the use of physical restraint and seclusion of children in Irish schools.
Physical restraint is the use of force to prevent the free movement of someone who poses an immediate threat of serious harm to themselves or others. Seclusion is the placing of a person in a room and preventing them from leaving that room.
Both practices have been used in schools to deal with behavioural problems, often on disabled or neurodivergent children. I fully support child advocacy groups like Inclusion Ireland and As I Am in lending their support to these new guidelines in quite rightly banning the use of seclusion outright. However they believe that restraint being used as a last resort will leave children exposed to abuse within our educational system. Both charities want improved reporting mechanisms on the use of restraint apropos to safeguarding children. There remains a statutory obligation on teachers to report on child protection concerns directly to Tusla. That reliance is solely on self-reporting by schools and this is simply is not good enough.
I believe that this has to be something the new education minister will have to consider when addressing this grave imbroglio.
John O’Brien, Clonmel, Co Tipperary
