Oireachtas to condemn terror attacks on US

The Dβil and Seanad will today roundly condemn the terrorist atrocities in the United States when they resume to express sympathies with the families mourning the feared 5,000 dead.

However, the 90-minute debates in both Houses of the Oireachtas will be confined to the party leaders, a representative from the Independents and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen.

"This is not the time for a fully fledged debate on Irish foreign policy. It is a time to express sympathy with the American people. They have not yet buried their dead," said a senior Government figure.

In his speech, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, will again express the nation's sympathy to the American people.

He will also support the right of the US to retaliate for the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon.

During a radio interview on Sunday, however, the Taoiseach indicated that the US would have to stay within the parameters of the United Nations' directive agreed last week, and that the US should act in concert with other countries.

However, the Tβnaiste, Ms Harney, is expected to go further by strongly supporting the US's rights to take "an appropriate military response".

In addition, she will say Ireland is willing to do everything it can in the fight against world terrorism.

Furthermore, the Tβnaiste will reject any suggestion there is "a moral equivalence" between the actions of the hijackers and retaliatory action by the Bush Administration.

So far, there are few signs of division between the Government and the Opposition over Mr Ahern's reaction to the determination of the US President, Mr Bush, to exact revenge.

"The Taoiseach has responded in an emotional way to the events. But then so has everybody else here. His response has not been that clear, really," commented a Fine Gael figure.

In his speech, the Fine Gael leader, Mr Noonan, will emphasise the US must act in accordance with UN norms, despite the deep well of anger building up in America since last Tuesday.

So far, Mr Ahern's reaction has not disturbed the Labour leadership, although Mr Quinn has expressed fears that a serious confrontation could erupt between the West and the Muslim world.

The restraint shown to date by the US has offered some comfort that it will act deliberately, and with the greatest of care, said a Labour source.

"There has to be some recognition of that. So far there is not a massive difference between us and the Government at this juncture. I do not know if that particular situation will continue."

The Dβil debate, beginning at noon, will be televised live by RT╔.

The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, the leader of Fine Gael, Mr Michael Noonan, and the leader of the Labour Party, Mr Ruair∅ Quinn, will each have 20 minutes to speak.

The Tβnaiste, Ms Harney, will have 20 minutes to make her contribution.

The Green Party TD Mr Trevor Sargent and a representative of the Independents will each be confined to five minutes.