Government 'has moral duty to oppose war'

The Government should act on the anti-war message delivered by 90,000 protesters in Dublin on Saturday, the Green Party said today.

Chairman John Gormley said that although he did not believe the protest would influence US President George W Bush, he hoped the Government would listen.

He also called on the Government to stop “fudging” the issue of its military neutrality and said it had a “moral duty” to oppose any war.

“Fianna Fail prides itself on having its finger on the pulse – its founding father De Valera said he only had to look into his own heart to know what the Irish people thought,” said Mr Gormley.

“So I hope they will listen to the Irish people.

“I think it is time that we as a so-called neutral country made our position clear, in line with other neutral countries in Europe, because we are out of sync with them,” he said.

“I want the Government to come out very clearly and say it is opposed to the war and stop facilitating the American war effort.”

Tom Kitt, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said: “I’m very happy with the protest on Saturday. In fact it is very much in line with my own view and with the Government’s view.”

He added: “It is important in any situation that the Irish Government and politicians get a feel for what the public are thinking.

“I always predicted a very big march on Saturday.”

After Saturday’s march – which attracted around four times the numbers expected – Labour leader Pat Rabbitte said the Government had greatly misjudged the depth of anti-war feeling in the Republic.

He said it proved public opinion had been vastly underestimated.

Organisers had originally predicted that 20,000 people would gather in Dublin to support the day of international protest.

Opposition politicians addressing rallies at the demonstration included Labour’s Michael D Higgins, Sinn Fein’s Aengus O Snodaigh and Green MEP Patricia McKenna.

Entertainment was provided by singers such as Christy Moore, Shane McGowan and Mary Coughlan.

Many of the protesters voiced their anger at the use of Shannon airport for the refuelling of US military planes.