5th February 2003

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Use of Irish army against protesting citizens ``outrageous'' says Louth TD

Speaking at the beginning of Dáil Business today and demanding proper time to debate this issue of Iraq in the House Sinn Fein TD Arthur Morgan has described the deployment of the Irish army as ``outrageous'' and said that using Shannon Airport as part of a build-up for war had serious implications for our neutrality.

In a Standing Order 31 request to the Ceann Comhairle Deputy Morgan said he was seeking the adjournment of the Dáil so that ``the outrageous deployment of the army of this state against its own citizens in order to protect the military forces of a foreign government using Shannon Airport as part of its build-up for a war of aggression against the Iraqi people'' could be properly discussed.

He went on to ask what ``implications this has for our long-standing and proud tradition of military and political neutrality.

``We now see a situation where Irish soldiers are being asked to turn their guns on Irish people engaging in legitimate protest'', he concluded. ENDS

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