Tom Kitt (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

I am very pleased to have the opportunity to address this House again today on the subject of Iraq. On the previous occasion when we discussed this issue in the Seanad, on 6 February last, I described the background to what was still an impending conflict. I expressed the hope that military action could be averted and I set out what was required of Saddam Hussein's regime.

Unfortunately, and to the Government's great regret, Iraq did not come forward with the full, immediate, proactive response demanded by the Security Council. Consequently, the hopes shared by us and the international community that Iraq could be disarmed peacefully were dashed. Even as we are speaking, the war has well and truly begun and we have seen the first reports of the inevitable and highly regrettable loss of life, both civilian and military.

This is not the outcome which the Government sought. It is exactly what we worked to avoid during our time as a member of the Security Council and, since then, up to the present. The Government has repeatedly called attention to the dangers entailed in military conflict: we have pointed to the threat of large-scale loss of life, casualties and human suffering; we have signalled the risk that conflict could destabilise an already volatile region; we have warned of the prospect of increased tension between the Moslem and western worlds; and we have laid particular emphasis on humanitarian concerns.

During our time on the Security Council, together with like-minded states, we worked hard and with some success to alleviate the effects of economic sanctions on the innocent civilian population of Iraq. The operation of the sanctions system was reversed so as to facilitate the supply of non-military goods intended for civilian use. The potential benefit of this was to some extent frustrated by the Iraqi regime who obstructed the oil-for-food programme for cynical propaganda purposes.

Sanctions could have been brought to an end years ago. This would have happened if Saddam Hussein had chosen to comply with the obligation imposed on him by the Security Council to get rid of weapons of mass destruction. However, he preferred to keep these weapons to intimidate his neighbours and terrorise his own people.

The Government has consistently opposed the use of force, except as a very last resort after all other possible means have been tried and have failed. The Government has stressed that all means short of force must be tried and we have encouraged and lent our support to every effort to find a peaceful solution through diplomatic means. As a member of the Security Council, Ireland contributed actively to the efforts which resulted in the unanimous adoption of Resolution 1441. That was an important moment when the international community demonstrated its ability to act collectively and decisively in defence of international peace and security.