Dublin - The State's offer to the US to allow its military to overfly and refuel does not mean Ireland is at war, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, said yesterday, Christine Newman reports.
Addressing an Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs after his return from the UN, the Minister said the offer was to assist in the international response against terrorism. "The question of Ireland participating in war does not arise nor, in my view, does the question of neutrality," he said.
The committee chairman, Mr Desmond O'Malley TD, said the Government had responded positively to the US call for assistance. Ireland had quite rightly offered the facilities. "Ireland cannot stand aloof from the menace of international terrorism. It must take its place with its friends among the nations of the world," he said. In doing so, Ireland could make a useful input to ensure the response was measured and just.
"As Ireland takes the mantle of President of the Security Council during October, we will be in a unique position to guide the international community at this very sensitive time," Mr O'Malley said.