Defending Ireland

Sir, – Can someone please explain why such a huge sum is being spent on tanks, with such little public debate? Indeed, why is the emphasis in Ireland still on a land army, when really, we need to protect our surrounding seas and what lies beneath.

An effective air force or navy should be where we spend our money, or, as your writer John McManus points out (“Why buy expensive French tanks when what we need is cheap Irish drones?”, November 4th), an effective drone force?

Obviously, our Public Accounts Committee should bring in the Minister for Defence and associated senior civil servants, and maybe leave poor RTÉ alone for a while? – Yours, etc,

Eoin Ganly,

Marino,

Dublin 9.