John Gormley,"The Dáil has not debated this issue"
The Irish Government has agreed to allow the United States military to refuel at Irish airports. The decision was made in the wake of the terrorist attacks in America.
The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, announced the decision at an emergency session of European Union leaders in Brussels last night.
Fine Gael said that it agreed in principle with the decision. The Fine Gael spokesman on Foreign Affairs, Jim O'Keefe was, however, critical of the way it was done.
Mr O'Keefe told RTÉ News that the Government had only dealt with one aspect of the consequences of our support for the UN Security Council's resolution. He said that the Government should have said a lot more about the underlying issues.
Labour spokesperson on foreign affairs, Michael D Higgins, said that the decision to offer the use of Irish airports for military actions without discussing it with the Oireachtas was an appalling slight to members of the Dáil and Seanad.
Green Party TD John Gormley claimed the move was unconstitutional. Mr Gormley said that according to the constitution this State "shall not participate in any war save with the assent of Dáil Éireann".
He said that the Dáil had not debated this issue. Mr Gormley also disputed a claim by the Taoiseach that the US was entitled to launch military action without a fresh mandate from the United Nations.
Mr Gormley said that an attack on Afghanistan would simply make the situation far worse and lead to a spiral of violence.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen, defended the Government's decision. Mr Cowen said that the Government was demonstrating its solidarity with America and backing a UN Security Council resolution.
Fine Gael front bench spokesperson on Public Enterprise and Tourism, Jim Higgins, said that it would be very difficult for Ireland not to allow US forces to use Irish airports and airspace while preparing a military response to the terrorist attacks in America.
Speaking this evening, Mr Higgins said that Ireland was obliged to support the US, considering what the Americans have done for Ireland in terms of industry and jobs and the peace process in the North.
Mr Ahern said that the offer to allow the US military refuel would to be made next Tuesday when Mr Cowen is due to meet his counterpart, Colin Powell, in Washington. The 15 EU heads of government agreed that retaliation for the attacks was legitimate.
They said that the response should be aimed at specific targets and should be carried out under the guidance of the United Nations. The 15 leaders agreed to order their justice and interior ministers to draw up plans to introduce European Union-wide arrest warrants by 7 December.
The French President, Jacques Chirac, and the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, briefed colleagues on their talks with President Bush. Mr Blair earlier reaffirmed his pledge to stand side by side with the United States against world terrorism.
Meanwhile, Washington's NATO ally, Turkey, has also said that it had agreed to open its air space and bases to American transport planes. A statement from the office of the Turkish prime minister, Bulent Ecevit, said that the country was also increasing its help to the Northern Alliance, the group of anti-Taliban forces that control part of northern Afghanistan.
Earlier, the emergency services, including Gardaí, fire brigade personnel and ambulance crews held a memorial service in Dublin for colleagues in the United States who lost their lives in last weeks terror attacks. Several hundred people attended a mass at Mount Argus Church in Harold's Cross.
