Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this matter.

Last week was the 15th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. On 20 March 2003, Dáil Éireann approved a Government motion authorising the use of Shannon Airport for the US-led invasion and occupation of Iraq. With that motion, put forward by the then Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, Ireland declared itself party to an illegal and baseless invasion of a sovereign country. Fianna Fáil argued at the time that even though it found it regrettable that there was no agreement at the UN Security Council level, it felt it necessary to support the Americans and the British in their war of aggression in light of what they interpreted to be a violation on the part of the Iraqi Government of its obligation to disarm of its weapons over a 12-year period. He said he hoped that the war would be a short one and said that Ireland would be happy to help rebuild the country after the bombing had ended. To quote the then Taoiseach that day:

One thing, however, is ... clear. Conflict could have been avoided if Saddam Hussein had complied with the long-standing demands of the UN Security Council that Iraq surrender its weapons of mass destruction. The simple fact is that he refused to do so.

This was completely false. Hans Blix, the chief UN weapons inspector, was in front of the UN Security Council saying that US and British intelligence had led to zero significant finds in Iraq, that the Iraqi Government was co-operating and that his work was not finished. To quote Blix, "We went to sites [in Iraq] given to us by intelligence" and "There were about 700 inspections, and in no case did we find weapons of mass destruction."

Deputy Enda Kenny argued against the relevant motion in the Dáil, stating:

It matters to our international credibility now and in the future. It matters to our self-respect as a nation. It matters to our respect for international law and the institutions set up to implement that law.

When the then leader of Fine Gael was arguing that Fianna Fáil was about to destroy our tradition of neutrality and rip-up international law while we were at it, Fianna Fáil Deputies shouted across the Chamber that he was a Saddam supporter.

Article 29 of the Constitution states:

1. Ireland affirms its devotion to the ideal of peace and friendly co-operation amongst nations founded on international justice and morality.

2. Ireland affirms its adherence to the principle of the pacific settlement of international disputes by international arbitration or judicial determination.

3. Ireland accepts the generally recognised principles of international law as its rule of conduct in its relations with other States.

Article 28.3.1° states:

War shall not be declared and the State shall not participate in any war save with the assent of Dáil Éireann.

In fact, we have now taken part in many wars through allowing the use of Shannon as a military airbase by the US military. It is just that the US does not consider bombing another sovereign country as an act of war, so conveniently neither do we.

Today seven principal countries are being bombed by the US and its allies: Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen. In Yemen today, not including those who will be killed by US and UK made bombs, 100 or more children will die from avoidable hunger and disease as a result of the Saudi actions. We keep raising these issues here in the Dáil and our Ministers keep flying over there for drinks with the perpetrators.

The former Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, was right in what he said in 2003. I wish the Government would reconsider its position.

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