Interesting articles

"That I'm aware of"

That line is carrying massive weight in your post. I would summarise it as the ostrich effect. If you cannot see the threat, there must not be one?

Meanwhile the russian Navy plan missile exercises in our EEZ, their bombers spend hours unmonitored flying through our airspace, the only reason we know this is because the RAF escorted them in, and escorted them back out again. Their "Research ships" spend many hours sheltering from weather in the most exposed bay on the west coast, which by coincidence is close to communication cables connecting Europe to North America

The Russian Embassy is actively being used as a hub for their intelligence operations in the UK and europe. Do you really think Ireland is important enough to russia that its embassy here requires a staff of 30 "advisors"?

Do we need to be actually invaded before you consider there is a real and active threat?

It was a russian cyber criminal collective that did the HSE hack...and if you think those groups have no connections to offical russia I have a bridge in Crimea to sell.

Some response from government to the presidents article:

https://www.rte.ie/news/politics/2023/0618/1389808-ireland-politics/

I was there when their ships visited. Not sure which one, either Vise Admiral Kulakov or Soobrazitelny had time to stage a visit with the top Northern fleet admirals, brought to Cobh in a fleet of BMW 7 series saloons, all with diplomatic plates. The ships were never open to the public, and it was believed Ireland provided an ideal opportunity for the top brass in Russian intelligence based in Dublin to meet with military commanders away from prying eyes.

If you believe they pose no threat to us I have a nice bridge to sell you.

https://flic.kr/p/d3Pr59

Great pics.

I'm always amused that people don't think it was odd the russians wanted to build a completely over scaled underground facility under their embassy as if everyone had one.

Or the fact that we have more personnel assigned to Dublin than nations multiple times our size, or ones they do a lot more trade with… I loved their excuse that it was all just going to be short term accommodation for staff transmitting through Dublin.

BULLSHIT

I'm on this planet long enough to know how naval visits work, particularly with russians. This was an operational visit, not a courtesy call, everyone with eyes could see it.

An article out at 6pm on a Sunday… I wonder what might have already been said to the President?

https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/commentanalysis/arid-41164870.html

Indeed. Tainiste trying to get the public back on message after the presidents hatchet job. He is entitled to his opinions as an individual, but not if they are contrary to the government of the day.

I wonder will there be a moment of "mature reflection" for the Phoenix Park prisoner?

I doubt it, I mean how many people that age actually change positions on much? I mean apart from the comments about the forum (and isn’t it interesting that he had a similar attack on the chairwoman that PBP and co came up with when she was announced), and to me either the lack of awareness in the panel members or the dishonest framing of them? And then on top of things taking a cheap shot on the investment in the DF. Given how the Gardaí for example have had issues in the past would he argue the same against investment in them? And I see Senator Clonal also jumped to the attack on the panelists until he deleted the tweet…

Perhaps, I didn’t see that, but still to push it out in the examiner tonight and perhaps in the paper itself tomorrow is a bit of a quick reaction. Looks like the Government has decided not to try picking a fight publicly with the President but who knows what was said privately. However I think we can all bet that this may not be the last interjection on the subject from the President.

https://www.rte.ie/news/analysis-and-comment/2023/0618/1389872-ireland-neutrality-president/

Who would you pick instead with similar experience?

Names...

People in the UK get knighthoods for doing their job well. Should she have refused it just to appease the republicans (small r). Its their tradition. They were talking about similar for here last week.

The Irish people value neutrality, but the poll also showed they haven't a notion what it entails.

"we want to be neutral but are fine with the British military protecting our airspace and whoever else protecting our waters!"

I think that Irish people have an instinctive understanding of neutrality, and it means not being in NATO, and letting Irish interests determine foreign and security policy. Most people in any country will have no deeper an understanding than that. Regarding Prof Richardson, she is very much an establishment character of the west. I believe that she will want Ireland as close to NATO and the western alliance as is politically possible. I think her outspoken intervention in the Scottish independence debate during the referendum campaign shows that first and foremost she is a company woman doing her job for the establishment, despite whatever left liberal causes she claims to espouse. I do not have confidence that her chairmanship of this board will help get what really need, a secure strong Ireland that operates and positions itself for, by and on behalf of the Irish people. We need to be just as close to the west as we need to be and no closer, because otherwise we are working for them and not us.

I spent the first half of my life a British citizen, I am an oul prod fre the north, but in the second half of my life embraced my Irishness (part marring across and living and working in RoI) but I know the U.K. honours system. Firstly it is very political, her Scottish intervention is why she got it, no doubt about it IMHO and also loads of people turn down honours, including many people who might surprise you, lots of people on the centre left to left and republicans, big and small R. This is not just SF stuff, a former SDLP leader, Brid Rodgers was expelled from the party for accepting a “gong”. It is not really the done thing unless you are a real west Brit. We need a clear, patriotic, yes small r republican, to chair that committee.

politically he had to probably, but his original assessment has merit.

As they say in Scotland, it has in me hole.