In 1990 and 1991, the then Government made clear that the extension of overflight and landing facilities at Shannon did not give rise to any question of Ireland's declaring war or participating in a war in the Persian Gulf. The Government has decided that it will continue to make these peripheral facilities available. This does not change our general policy of military neutrality. In fact, to withdraw these facilities now after they have been available for an unbroken period of more than 50 years would be a radical reversal of long-standing policy.