Labour slams gov decision to defer Dail debate on Iraq

national | miscellaneous | news report Friday January 24, 2003 13:57 by MoD

The Labour Party Whip, Emmet Stagg TD, has criticised the government decision to cancel arrangements for a debate in the Dail next week on the growing threat of war over Iraq.

“Following a letter from the Leader of the Labour Party, Pat Rabbitte TD, to the Taoiseach the government had indicated its agreement to a limited debate on Thursday afternoon next. This has now been withdrawn and the government is proposing deferring any discussion on the Iraqi situation until the following week, the reason being offered is that the Minister for Foreign Affairs will be away on Thursday next.”

“The Labour Party regards this as totally unsatisfactory. The situation is becoming more critical each day as both the U.S. and the U.K. pour tens of thousands of troops into the Gulf region. At the same time there is growing public concern in this country about the apparently unconditional provision of facilities at Shannon Airport to facilitate the build up for war. The preliminary report from the United Nations inspectors is due next week .”

“Even if the Minister for Foreign Affairs has to be absent it is essential that the Dail should have an opportunity to debate this matter as soon as it returns from recess during which the Taoiseach should spell out exactly what facilities are being provided at Shannon and the legal basis on which this is being done.”