The Minister for Community, Rural and Geltacht Affairs, Mr Ó Cuiv, has defended his position on the US/British war against Iraq following a confrontation with anti-war protesters outside his constituency office in Galway yesterday.
The Minister told The Irish Times he was "happy" with the Cabinet decision on the continued use of Shannon Airport by the US military, and said that the Labour Party had "fully supported" military action by NATO against Serbia in 1999, when innocent Serbs had been killed.
"There is no philosophical difference between now and 1999," the Minister said.
He was speaking after a mock funeral was held outside his constituency office in Victoria Place, Galway, yesterday morning by members of the Galway Alliance Against War (GAAW).
The two-hour "funeral" was held to mark "the death of the de Valera and Frank Aiken tradition of Irish neutrality and independence", the alliance said.
Mr Niall Farrell, a spokesman for the GAAW, said the Minister's office was the only focal point in the city for alliance supporters to express shock and anger at the betrayal of Irish neutrality.
"During the ceremony, the Minister appeared and attempted in his usual verbose manner to justify the unjustifiable. People naturally jeered at him," Mr Farrell said.
"The point was made to the Minister that he had had his opportunity at the Cabinet table and the Dáil to speak in defence of neutrality, something he has claimed in the past to hold dearly.
"We believe that the Government has betrayed the great tradition of de Valera and Aiken and that there is innocent Iraqi blood on the Cabinet table because of its collusion with the US war machine."
Mr Ó Cuiv said the Government had "made it very clear" the use of Shannon was not an expression of support for war. "I am not a military type of person, but I'm also happy to support Government policy, and anything I have to say on this will be said in Cabinet."
