Bertie to face down Dáil criticism over Shannon
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said that withdrawing a facility that has been used since 1955 would be seen as a “hostile act” and he wanted to maintain Ireland’s good relations with the United States.
However, he insisted that yesterday’s Cabinet decision was not a sign of support for the US-led war and pointed out that a Government motion to be debated in the Dáil today will express regret at the actions of the coalition.
“It would be wrong - we’re not engaged in this war, we’re not participating in this war, we’re not going to be doing anything inconsistent. For us to withdraw what has been there over 40 years would be seen as a hostile act,” he said.
The Government will face united opposition from Fine Gael, Labour, the Greens and Independent deputies as it seeks to pass the motion which formally declares its intention to allow US troops to use Shannon.
Despite signals of discontent from several Fianna Fáil backbenchers, the Government is expected to have full support from the party’s deputies.
A spokesman for Tánaiste Mary Harney said that all eight Progressive Democrats will support the Government, despite the reservations expressed by TDs Liz
O’Donnell and Fiona O’Malley.
The Government’s motion reaffirms Ireland’s commitment to the United Nations, expresses regret that the US-led coalition found it necessary to launch military action in the absence of agreement by the Security Council, and supports the use of Shannon by the US military.
The Opposition yesterday condemned the terms of the motion and said it exposed the Government’s hypocrisy of opposing war without a UN mandate, while allowing military planes to use the airport.
“Political expediency and commercial interests have been allowed to take precedence over human life and the principles of international law,” said Labour’s foreign affairs spokesman Michael D Higgins.
Green Party chairman John Gormley said the motion was “spineless” and expressed complete support for US President George Bush and his allies.
The Taoiseach, however, insisted that the country was not supportive of the war effort and that the use of Shannon was not an issue: “It is not engaging in war - there is long precedent, there is clear stated constitutional and legal compliance with our neutrality. Allowing a civilian airport for peripheral ancillary facilities is not engaging and supporting in the war effort,” he said.
Mr Ahern also tried to play down the importance of the Shannon facility, which has been used by more than 30,000 troops travelling to the Gulf.
“Overflights and landings at Shannon, while there are not many nowadays, are quite limited because three of the major carriers have pulled out and the military flights themselves are not landing much,” he said.
There had been suggestions of division within Fine Gael over the Shannon question, with question marks over the stance of its justice spokesman John Deasy.
However, Mr Deasy is expected to be in America and will not be available for the vote.
