Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail)

I will be brief as we have gone over our time. I join my colleagues in welcoming the Minister of State to address this issue, which is clearly of great international concern. The events that occur over the next few weeks and months are likely to set the international political and economic agenda not only for the rest of the year but also for many years to come. I compliment the Minister of State, his Department, including the officials who are here today, and the Minister, Deputy Cowen, for the careful work they have been doing in relation to this developing crisis. Ireland has managed quite well to balance on the fine line between endeavouring to ensure continued international peace and striving to see Iraq rid itself of all weapons of mass destruction.

There has been much talk about what kind of weapons there are. I join Senator Maurice Hayes in my doubts about Iraq's nuclear capabilities – some of the documents we have seen in recent times cast a shadow of doubt over what is there. Mr. Powell certainly seems to be concentrating on biological and chemical weapons. I do not mean to undermine their capabilities as weapons of mass destruction. Certain Members and elements of society seem not to remember the hazardous effects of chemical weapons as we have become hung up on the nuclear threat. People have used the fact that no smoking gun was found leading to nuclear weapons as a reason not to pursue Saddam Hussein. We know that chemical and biological weapons can be just as destructive.