Dail disrupted as Greens protest

Proceedings at the Dail were disrupted today when Green Party members held up placards spelling the words No to War and walked out of the chamber.

Leader Trevor Sargent and his party members mounted the protest as Taoiseach Bertie Ahern took leaders’ questions on the subject of war in Iraq.

Each of the members held up a letter spelling out the words, ahead of their attempt to bring up the subject during private members’ time tonight.

It came minutes after opposition Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny asked whether the Cabinet had discussed and made a decision in relation to the country’s attitude to the use of facilities at Co Clare’s Shannon airport.

Speaking as the Dail reconvened after its six-week Christmas break, Mr Ahern said Ireland's position on the use of Shannon airport by US military aircraft remained the same.

He said the Government’s position would be confirmed in a statement by foreign affairs minister Brian Cowen this evening.

Mr Ahern added however that the position would be reviewed in the event of war without a UN mandate.

Protests by opposition parties and demonstrators have been mounting amid claims the use of Shannon breaches Ireland's tradition of military neutrality.

Mr Ahern was accused by Socialist Party leader Joe Higgens of turning a blind eye to planes passing through the airport.

Responding to requests to clarify whether US planes were inspected for weapons, Mr Ahern said it was not practice to board aircraft that had not requested permission.

Under Irish law, planes carrying munitions are only allowed to refuel if they request permission in advance.

He confirmed that 30 requests were made for permission to pass through Shannon airport last year.

Mr Higgens accused the Taoiseach of having blood on his hands for colluding with the United States on the issue of Iraq.

Mr Ahern said: “If I did believe that the Americans were storing weapons of mass destruction in Shannon airport and hiding them from the United Nations inspectors then I would take a different view.”

“And that is why I am so concerned about the fact that Saddam Hussein had for many years weapons of mass destruction which he has used against the people of his own country, which he has used against Iranians, which he has used against the Kurds.”

The Green Party’s Trevor Sargent, who later returned to the chamber, asked the Taoiseach why the subject of war was only being debated during private members’ time – which was due to be held this evening.

Mr Ahern said that if the need for such a debate arose he would consider bringing it up during the Dail’s main discussion time.