Dublin City Council vote for a Pause for Peace

national | miscellaneous | news report Tuesday March 04, 2003 13:10 by Flanagan - Labour Party head_office at labour dot ie Ely Place, Dublin 2

Labour Councillors motion calling for a Pause for Peace on St. Patricks Day was passed last night. All the Fianna Fail councillors voted against it.

Labour motion reads as follows:

Dublin City Council is deeply concerned at recent UN and NGO figures indicating that, in the event of a military invasion of Iraq, over 80,000 civilians could be killed, over half a million could require medical treatment as a result of direct or indirect injuries, over three million could be made homeless, and a further three million displaced.

Dublin City Council further recognises the deep public concern in Dublin, and throughout Ireland, at the prospect of a war being conducted against the people of Iraq. That concern was most recently expressed on February 15th, when over 100,000 of our fellow citizens engaged in a peaceful march for peace.

In order to give public expression to these concerns, Dublin City Council will therefore arrange for white flags of peace to be flown along the River Liffey. We will further recommend that those organising this year's St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin arrange for a one-minute "Pause for Peace" to be observed at noon on St. Patrick's Day.

It is our intention both the white flags and the 'Pause for Peace' outlined in this motion should not only express our opposition to any war being conducted against the people of Iraq, but should also commemorate the suffering endured by the Iraqi people under the dictatorial regime of President Saddam Hussein.

We further condemn Saddam Hussein's brutal dictatorship and support all peaceful means to secure his removal.