Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

I answered questions on this issue the week before last. As I said in my earlier reply, we discussed Northern Ireland and European matters at this meeting. We did not discuss Iraq, but when I previously answered questions on this matter I stated that we formally and officially condemned and signalled our outrage at what had happened in the prisons to the UK and US authorities. The Deputy knows our position on the other issues. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Cowen, attended the General Affairs Council yesterday and, as at any such meeting, he encouraged the formulation of a new and clear resolution that will be satisfactory to everybody so that the international community can endeavour to bring stability and a successful hand-over to the interim administration at the end of June that will appoint a president, vice-president and prime minister. It will also have the resources to allow it to deal with this issue and will have access to an international force that will have the credibility to allow it to operate. It is into this crucial matter that we are investing all our efforts and energy. The most important aspect is to protect the sovereignty and integrity of Iraq and its people in order that direct elections can be held in the spring of next year.

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