Is Russia at war with Europe? UK thinks so, possibly by 2030. Is Ireland ready defence wise?

Articel 5 was invoked, so yes they were.

I dont think the Irish public want the sort of neutrality some posters are trying to sell here.

If it had made threats and not done anything it would be a "Paper Tiger". But that's not what it has done. It has invaded and gone to war. It has put ships and aircraft off Irelands coast.

That is not a Paper Tiger. That mindset is a mistake. Ireland might not need to join EU or NATO. But a navy with only one ship at sea and non with a working deck gun. Or no suitable aircraft to police a rogue aircraft it's a farce.

I agree with your points regarding our navy and airforce.

I dont thunk Russia is or will be at war with Europe. It would serve no long term purpose for them, but they are run by a dictator who could become even madder.

I think the public view neutrality as not having obligations to join wars with other countries but to choose the engagements we want to take part in on a case by case basis

They weren't political goals. They didn't want Ukraine joining EU or NATO they want military buffer zone from NATO. (Which is daft because there was no NATO threat). That's only partially accurate though it's really empire building by Putin. As such its a military objective not a political one.

Before the war Russia had strong economic links to Europe and elsewhere. It was doing better than it had for a very long time. Putin threw this all away for military ambition. NATO was the weakest it's ever been. It's now rearming.

All stupid. But Ireland wasn't even equipped to deal with peace time policing. It's certainly not equipped to deal with a rogue state just that might disrupt energy, communication or aircraft flights just out of badness. Never mind drugs or other such policing

The hypothetical scenario is Ireland participating in a EU army because of the threat from Russia and then finding common cause with major powers in EU would are supportive of Isreal. Merz has said he would invite Netanyahu to Germany despite a ICC warrant for his arrest. Germany and France seem happy with genocide in Gaza.

Before we join any alliance we need to make sure we share similar values. Clearly we do not. In fact , to me , it is clear that Germany, Czechia and others don't share the values of peace enshrined in the EU values and aims. In particular

• contribute to peace and security and the sustainable development of the Earth
• contribute to solidarity and mutual respect among peoples, free and
  fair trade, eradication of poverty and the protection of human rights
• strict observance of international law

It's a ridiculous scenario. Israel is not in Europe. "Support for Israel" is terminology so vague as to be meaningless. Apparently I support Israel's genocide despite calling it a genocide because I criticise Jeremy Corbyn.

You've said that Germany, Czechia and others do not share these values but offer no detail on this.

There are reasons to maintain neutrality and there are reasons to abandon it. Your scenario is not a good reason for the former.

Not remotely the same thing. Ukraine is in the middle of joining the EU and is fighting for its life. Israel is completely and utterly irrelevant to Irish and European defence. You've made up a silly, impossible scenario that is never going to occur as the basis for your argument.

There are reasons to question and/or oppose Ireland joining NATO, increasing its armed forces or whatever. None of these involve Israel.

The EU is a economic alliance not military alliance, it is not like being in Nato. What you are describing as pure scumbaggery is the policy we followed through ww2.

I think we would assist these countries if they were attacked but the Irish public does not appear to want to sign formal agreements in this regard.

Assist how? Some encouraging words?

The same way we have assisted Ukraine , equipment, medical supplies, military vehicles, housing refugees fleeing the war zone.

It is the popular approach since the founding of the state, unfortunately. It must be hard to consider the majority of the Irish public scumbags.

Don't need to change anything to do same thing as they are doing now then. The housing has been shambolic.