Government action on Shannon contravenes Defence Act

national | miscellaneous | news report Wednesday January 08, 2003 17:54 by Cathy Flanagan` - Labour Party head_office at labour dot ie 17 Ely Place, Dublin 2 6784700

Labour's spokesperson on Foreign Affairs condemns the Government action on Shannon and explains how the current situation contravenes the Defence Act.

Labour Party Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Michael D. Higgins TD, has paid tribute to the bravery of the those protesting at the presence of US aircraft in Shannon airport. Further, with specific reference to the 1954 Defence Act, Deputy Higgins described recent government statements on Shannon as "one untruth followed by another.

It is simply untrue to say that the current use of Shannon by American forces represents normal activity. Section 317 of the 1954 Defence Act states that:

'(1) No person shall, save with the consent in writing of a Minister of State, enter or land in the State while wearing any foreign uniform.
(2) No person shall, save with the consent in writing of a Minister of State, go into any public place in the State while wearing any foreign uniform.
(3) A Minister of State may from time to time direct that subsections (1) and (2) of this section shall not during a specified period apply in respect of any particular class (defined in such manner as he thinks fit) of persons, and in that case the said subsections shall not apply during that period in respect of that class of persons.

Yet the Taoiseach, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and government have continually refused to answer the following questions: Has permission been given to the hundreds of uniformed United States soldiers in Shannon every day and night in recent times?

Has the Minister responsible sought to establish whether their presence is in pursuance of any UN resolution in preparation for a pre-emptive strike?

In the Dail, on national radio and television, and in the media the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister for Defence, and the Taoiseach have sought to deceive the public on these issues. No answers on the questions have been forthcoming.

The only conclusion is that in the name of the Irish people we are becoming passive accomplices in preparation for war. Irish citizens have been forced to establish a peace- camp at Shannon. It is as worthy of our admiration as is the government's deceit a source of shame to them and all who support them.