Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

This Government strongly opposes the use of chemical weapons in any country, including Iraq. My party and one of its great founders, Deputy Frank Aiken, led that move internationally in the United Nations. We got the agreement, we stand by and have led the work on this issue and are proud of that contribution. We also strongly oppose the use of any conventional weapons in a manner which is contrary to international law. When he became aware of the recent media reports, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, another Louthman, had immediate inquiries made with the US Embassy to ascertain the actual position. The US Embassy confirmed that US forces had used white phosphorus munitions in Iraq, both to create smokescreens and as incendiary weapons, against defended positions.