Republican News · Thursday 11 October 2001

” Caolain opposes "retaliatory war"

Speaking in a special D·il debate last week, Sinn FÈin TD opposed the retaliatory war by the US and its allies. Having put on the D·il record the Sinn FÈin Ard Fheis statement of sympathy to the US government and people on the 11 September attacks, ” Caol·in said:

"Those responsible for the attacks on the USA should be brought to justice before an international court established by and responsible to the United Nations.

"There is growing opposition in Ireland and worldwide to a retaliatory war. We are being offered a choice between total support for the as yet undefined war on terror by NATO and its allies or support for those who carried out the atrocities in the USA. This is a false choice.

"We should not give unquestioning support to whatever military action may be taken by NATO. The offer of facilities at Irish airports to NATO forces represents a clear violation of our military neutrality. It is right that we should not be neutral in opposition to those who carry out such atrocities, but that should not translate into support for military alliances which are at this moment preparing for war.

"Like other Deputies, I question the constitutionality of the government's decision to give NATO aircraft access to Irish airports when Article 28 of the Constitution states that the State shall not participate in a war save with the assent of the D·il. I urge the government to reconsider and reverse this unwise and, possibly, unconstitutional decision.

"I welcome the government announcement of aid for Irish organisations in the US, working with survivors and the bereaved, and for Afghan refugees. I acknowledge the work of the Irish Consultate General in New York in assisting the injured, the bereaved, those whose relatives are missing and those in Ireland seeking information and help."

PD TD Dessie O'Malley used the occasion to take a swipe at Sinn FÈin. "There is an organisation, headed by Sinn FÈin, which decides whether an Irish citizen is entitled to live on this island or be banished from it," he said. Replying to this the Sinn FÈin TD said:

"I must refer to the scurrilous attacks on Sinn FÈin which, disgracefully, have been made by some political opponents in the wake of the atrocities in the USA. I will not dignify with a detailed response those who would use such a tragedy in a petty, party political effort to stem the electoral growth of Sinn FÈin. The Irish people see these anti-republican attacks for what they are, cynical and opportunist. We will not be diverted by such tactics, be they from Deputy O'Malley or anybody else. The most important thing we, in Ireland, must do in the aftermath of this tragedy is redouble our efforts to make our peace process work. There will be other occasions to discuss the current grave difficulties in the process, but it is the responsibility of both governments and all parties to make progress possible."