Harney comments demonstrate govt incoherence on threat of war

national | miscellaneous | news report Monday February 03, 2003 17:33 by Manus - LY

Labour Party Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Deputy Michael D. Higgins, has called on Tanaiste Mary Harney to substantiate claims she made on national radio at the weekend concerning the threat of war in Iraq.

"Yesterday lunchtime I heard the Tanaiste state that Iraq was in possession of a nuclear capacity. Further, she claimed that there was a direct link between the use of Shannon airport by the United States military and the so-called 'war-on-terror' it launched in response to the September 11 terrorist atrocities.

"Is the Tanaiste in possession of facts that remain concealed to the general public?

"She is making assertions about Iraq's nuclear capabilities that have yet to be made by Dr Blix or Dr ElBaradei, and is also able to defend and facilitate the present military build-up and aggressive posturing by the US, despite no American targets having been attacked by Iraq.

"Her comments have only added to public confusion concerning the government's stance on the threat of war. She should be assisting the Taoiseach in formulating some coherent government policy on this matter, rather than uttering misleading and inaccurate comments on radio."