The Green Party has condemned Brian Cowen for his remarks to the effect that Ireland could not be neutral on international terrorism.
John Gormley of the Green Party said in a statement that the Minister for Foreign Affairs was using the emotive issue of international terrorism to abandon the last shred of Irish neutrality.
Mr Gormley said that other neutral countries were not giving airspace and airports to the US and the implication that those who wished to maintain Irish neutrality were somehow soft on terrorism was grossly insulting.
Mr Gormley claimed that the Ministers own record on ratifying treaties on terrorism, which could make a practical legal difference, was appalling. Mr Gormley called again on the Labour Party to clarify whether it supported the use of Irish airspace and airports for US military strikes.
