Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

The argument of whether the horrendous loss of life in Iraq should be defined as "civil war" is semantic. There is a concerted effort to drag the country into a sustained period of civil strife. Despite the killings, several religious and political leaders have been restrained in their responses to them. Efforts are continuing to draw together a broadly-based Iraqi Government but it has not been easy. The Iraqi people have a strong desire for the establishment of democratic institutions and their own hands on power. However, there is a long way to go yet.

Recently I had discussions with the newly accredited Iraqi ambassador to Ireland. Given our history, the Irish are cognisant of the TV pictures of the awful events in Iraq. However, the ambassador pointed out to me that substantial peace reigns in 14 out of the 18 regions in Iraq. In some places, there are daily flights to and from Frankfurt and Amsterdam. That is not to diminish what is happening in other significant areas of Iraq. All efforts of the international community are to endeavour to have as broadly based a representative government as possible.

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