The war is now on and Ireland will have to make decisions. While it has many ties with America, personal and emotional as well as economic, we must defend the supremacy of the United Nations as the governing body of international relations. That is the reason Fine Gael has proposed the amendment and opposes the use of Shannon Airport by the American military in the current circumstances. I am proud of the courageous move taken it in standing up and being counted on this issue. I hope the war concludes quickly with the minimum of casualties on all sides. Ireland has made a mistake by not taking a stand on the issue. We should and could have done so.