Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 20 Feb 2001

Vol. 530 No. 6

Adjournment Debate. - Foreign Conflicts.

Mr. Power

The attack by US and British aircraft on Iraqi military installations must be condemned out of hand. Aircraft from the central command regions carried out the mission which the Pentagon described as a self-defence one against command and control centres which have contributed to increased harrying of coalition air patrols in the no-fly zone. The Pentagon has also said that an escalation in the threat to allied planes left them with no choice. It is no surprise that the UK defence Minister, Mr. Geoff Hoone, has also supported the attack. He said that the allies were perfectly entitled to defend themselves under international law, and were entitled to attack the Iraqis when they threaten aircraft, as they have been doing.

Since 1990, Iraq has suffered under sanctions imposed. A number of Members of the House have visited Iraq to see at first hand the destruction and loss of life caused to innocent civilians. They have outlined the human suffering that the sanctions have caused. Iraq has demanded an end to the sanctions, a request which has been supported by the Arab nations, France, Russia, China and other countries. It seems inappropriate that the US and British Governments would decide to attack at a time when many nations are seeking changes in the sanctions and huge efforts are being made to allow UN inspectors to return to Iraq. It is important that the Government condemns this wrong attack. In the past ten years, we have witnessed a campaign of bombings and sanctions against Iraq which has failed miserably. It has only served to make Saddam Hussein a greater hero and inflict dreadful hardship on innocent Iraqi people, and cannot continue.

The US and British authorities cannot be allowed to be the self-appointed guardians of the world. Britain is our near neighbour. While I appreciate the major changes that have taken place between our countries in the recent years, the wonderful relationship that has existed between the USA and Ireland for many years, and the vital role played by the US in bringing peace to this country, we cannot allow these facts to prevent us from doing what is right and necessary in this situation. We are in a very privileged position as a member of the UN Security Council, and it is important that we play a prominent role in bringing about humanitarian aid and an initiative to deal with the Iraqi acquisition of weapons of mass destruction.

Millions of pounds of human aid is being held up by the 661 committee, and it is vital that it is released immediately. The oil for food programme has not worked as it should, as there is an obvious lack of willingness to implement it. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Cowen, will participate in important meetings in Moscow, Paris and Washington in the coming days. He should use the opportunity to highlight that the use of force can no longer be tolerated, the sanctions must be lifted, and a peaceful policy be pursued in Iraq.

Minister of State at the Department of Public Enterprise (Mr. Jacob)

US and British aircraft attacked Iraqi air defence installations last Friday evening. These attacks were in response to a build-up of those defences which was perceived by the American and British authorities as threatening to the safety of their aircraft patrolling the no-fly zones over Iraq. These actions have taken place at a time when efforts are being made to secure the return of a UN disarmament mission to Iraq and a possible review of sanctions. The Government regrets very much that the use of force was deemed necessary. We hope every step will be taken to avoid further use of force which might lead to civilian casualties and impede efforts, ten years after the end of the Gulf War, to restore normal life for the Iraqi people and Iraq's return to the international community. We are also concerned that the legal basis in UN resolutions for these air-strikes is a matter of dispute between members of the Security Council.

Over the next week the Minister for Foreign Affairs will hold high level talks with the Russian Foreign Minister, Igor Ivanov, the French Foreign Minister, Hubert Védrine and with the new US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, and the National Security Adviser, Condoleeza Rice. These talks, which will include bilateral issues, will also cover Security Council issues of common interest. Clearly, the continuing UN sanctions against Iraq, and particularly their impact on the people in Iraq, will be an important part of these talks. The Minister will outline the view of the Government that last Friday's events need to be seen in the broader context of widespread inter-national concern about the situation in Iraq and the implementation of Security Council resolutions. All issues outstanding in relation to the implementation of UN sanctions against Iraq need to be addressed before those specific problems which gave rise to the military strikes last Friday can be resolved.

These include the humanitarian aspects and the need for Iraq to comply with Security Council resolutions, especially those relating to Iraq's acquisition of weapons of mass destruction. I recall that it was also international concern with an earlier humanitarian situation in Iraq, and grave abuse of human rights there, which gave rise to a number of decisions taken by the Security Council some ten years ago. Ireland wishes to see sanctions lifted at the earliest possible moment. However, to help bring this about, Iraq must demonstrate with concrete evidence its peaceful intentions, especially with regard to its neighbours.

The humanitarian problem being faced by the people of Iraq is of major concern to the Government and we are taking every opportunity at the United Nations and elsewhere to hold discussions on this complex issue with the various parties, including other Security Council members and key United Nations personnel. In these discussions we have stressed the urgent need to alleviate the suffering of the Iraqi people, especially children, and to greatly improve the conditions of the general population who are directly affected by the implementation of the UN sanctions. We will address these issues again in discussions scheduled to take place in the Security Council later today.

Our approach to this issue, as a member of the Security Council, is informed both by the need to address the human suffering and to ensure that Iraq complies with the decisions of the Security Council. All countries are required under the UN Charter to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council and Ireland stands by this obligation. The Iraqi Government's refusal to co-operate with UN Commissions appointed to verify the dismantling of Iraq's programme to acquire weapons of mass destruction is the basis for the continued imposition of the sanctions. The ten years since the Gulf War is too long a period for the stand-off to persist at such a dreadful human cost.

We would welcome an urgent examination of the sanctions programme, particularly in regard to the problems caused by holds and delays in implementing the oil for food programme and the manner in which the Iraqi authorities use oil for food funds. Areas in which progress is urgently needed also include the deployment of the new UN disarmament mission (UNMOVIC). We see the planned meeting later this month between the UN Secretary General and the Iraqi Foreign Minister as providing the opportunity to identify the steps to be taken by Iraq so that progress can be made.

Progress will only be made when the spirit of co-operation replaces that of confrontation and we would appeal to all to avoid provocative actions and statements which would serve to undermine the prospects for such progress. Security Council Resolution 1234 provides for the suspension of sanctions in return for Iraqi co-operation with the new disarmament supervisory commission and compliance with the conditions imposed by the Security Council. We wish to see the necessary co-operation from Baghdad to allow concrete progress to be made on the suspension, and ultimate lifting, of the sanctions. This would be a major step towards the return of Iraq to its rightful place in the international community.

The Government has also directly addressed the humanitarian issues. A grant of £100,000 by Ireland Aid to the International Committee of the Red Cross was made last November to address the rehabilitation of health, water and sanitation facilities in Iraq.