Taoiseach needs to clarify Govt position on use of Shannon

national | miscellaneous | news report Monday January 27, 2003 13:01 by MoD

The Labour Party has called on the Taoiseach to make a clear statement on Government policy on the use of Shannon Airport by foreign military aircraft given the dramatically different positions emerging from the Cabinet on the issue.

Spokesperson on Transport, Roisin Shortall said that the revelation by Minister Seamus Brennan that he has given US civilian aircraft permission to transport military equipment through Shannon is in direct contradiction of the legal and political position taken by some of his colleagues.

“The revelation today that Minister Seamus Brennan has given permission to US civilian aircraft to transport munitions through Shannon Airport flies in the face of earlier statements from Government on this issue. The Minister appears to have acted in conflict with the stated position of Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen.

“The increased use of Shannon Airport in recent weeks and months has generated a high level of public unease about the apparent complicity of the Irish Government in the build-up to a potential war in Iraq. The conflicting statements from Ministers have only fuelled that unease”, she said.

“The extraordinary lack of clarity from Government on this issue demands a full statement from the Taoiseach at the earliest opportunity. He has already postponed a vital Dáil debate on these matters until next week. However, with the Dáil resuming this Wednesday, the Taoiseach will have a useful opportunity to clear up the legal and political quagmire that his Cabinet colleagues have created”, she added.