The Minister for Foreign Affairs has told the Dáil that Ireland is to raise alleged human rights abuses in Iraq with US President George W Bush at two meetings next month.
Brian Cowen said that, as holder of the EU Presidency, Ireland would raise the issue both at the G8 summit in Georgia in the US and at the EU-US summit which will be held in Dromoland Castle.
Mr Cowen, who was responding to Opposition questions, pointed out that there are inquiries taking place into the allegations.
He accepted that there was an 'appalling breakdown' which needed to be addressed because that is what democracies do.
Labour's Michael D Higgins said the Government, as President of the EU Council, had not issued a statement for a long time, and asked whether it was not 'disgraceful that we have been so silent for so long'.
John Gormley of the Green Party suggested the best protest the Government could make would be to withdraw facilities for US military forces at Shannon.
