Taoiseach claims economics not key issue on Iraq

Economics is not the key issue in Ireland's approach to the US in the event of a unilateral strike on Iraq but it is a factor, the Taoiseach told the Dáil.

Mr Ahern also said he had no discussions, "formally or informally, directly or indirectly", with the US administration about the use of Shannon by military aircraft if there was such an attack.

Responding to Opposition questions about his views on the economic implications if Ireland refused to back a unilateral US attack on Iraq, Mr Ahern said: "I am not a hypocrite."

US industry in Ireland "is bigger than either agriculture or tourism", he said. "These are facts and considerations. They are not the key issues and do not influence the Government, but don't ignore them."

During sharp exchanges with the Green Party leader, Mr Trevor Sargent, the Taoiseach said that economic consequences were not the key issue, but they had to be considered. He pointed out that there were 591 US companies in Ireland, and total US investment in the State was more than €40 billion.

"I am not a hypocrite, and when I go to the US to the Economic Advisory Council, when I support the IDA or when I seek changes in American tax law, I am looking to a friendly country. My interest is not in finding excuses to criticise the United States. I support the primacy of the Security Council, and will remain balanced, unlike the deputy."

Mr Sargent had referred to the RTÉ Prime Time programme on Tuesday in which the former ambassador to the US, Mr Sean Donlon, former minister Mr David Andrews and IDA representatives had, he said, stated their belief that there would not be negative economic consequences for Ireland if the Government opposed a pre-emptive strike on Iraq without a second UN resolution.

The Taoiseach had not seen the programme. He did not know what Mr Andrews had said. "I am telling you the Government's position. I am not going to answer for everybody's view on this."

Asked by the Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, what discussions he had had with the White House about the use of Shannon, he insisted that the Government had had no discussions "whatsoever" with the US.

He added that Ireland had "strongly supported" the UN. "The assistance of Shannon in its own small way has helped in that, which has been acknowledged by the European Council (of EU Government leaders) and the UN Security Council."

He later acknowledged to Mr Sargent that he did talk about the situation with the US ambassador, Mr Richard Haass, "but we did not discuss what might happen if there was unilateral action by the United States or if Resolution 1441 was not moved on".

Mr Sargent said: "Judging by air traffic control statistics from last Saturday, the largest aeroplanes in the world passed overhead every 20 or 30 minutes carrying tanks and military equipment to the Middle East."

Mr Ahern reiterated the Government's position that it "is sticking to the position Ireland has traditionally held. Our position is trying to avoid conflict but maximising the pressure on Saddam Hussein".

There is no "credible threat" to Shannon airport or any other part of the country, the Minister for Defence told the Dáil. Mr Smith said the security forces had consistently indicated that there was no credible terrorist threat.

He added, however, that "that position can change quickly".

A task force had been established to ensure that "all State bodies can react quickly and efficiently to any large-scale emergency".

But he said that lethal weapons and ammunition had not been issued to the Defence Forces at Shannon. "I can envisage no circumstances in which it would be necessary to use lethal weapons", he told Mr Aengus Ó Snodaigh (SF, Dublin South-Central), who had asked what would soldiers do if protesters took over the runway. "Would they sit on them?" he asked

He was pressed repeatedly by Mr John Gormley (GP, Dublin South-East) about what would happen if al-Qaeda launched an attack against aircraft. Mr Smith replied: "I would expect our soldiers to do what is appropriate."

Earlier the Taoiseach had told the Dáil that there was heightened security. "The Government would be inept, to say the least, if it did not take account of what is going on all over the world," he said.