Smith defends use of Shannon by US military

The Minister for Defence has insisted that the Government policy of allowing US military aircraft to use Shannon airport is not putting it at risk of terrorist attack.

Mr Smith said there were no plans to increase security at the airport or to send gardaí or security staff in to check US planes for weapons.

However, he couldn't give a "cast-iron guarantee" that there were no unapproved weapons aboard the aircraft.

The Minister insisted Ireland's neutrality was not being compromised by allowing the US to use the airport to refuel planes en route to a possible attack on Iraq.

"There is no threat to military neutrality," he said. "We are non-aligned and we are staying non-aligned."

But he said that Ireland "couldn't afford to be bystanders" in the fight against international terrorism.

He said precautions taken by Aer Rianta since September 11th makes it difficult for "people with evil intent to carry out atrocities".

Around 2,000 people, including TDs and MEPs from five different parties, protested at the airport on Saturdy at the presence of the US military. The marchers argued that the Government was in breach of the Constitution and its action made Ireland complicit in any US attack.