As Fine Gael called for the Government to detail Ireland's foreign policy in the light of the US attacks, the Labour Party, the Greens and Independents reiterated their criticism of the Government's offer of overflight and refuelling facilities at Irish airports.
Fine Gael leader Mr Michael Noonan said it was not enough for the Minister for Foreign Affairs or the Taoiseach to say Ireland is not neutral when it comes to international terrorism. "That for all of us is a given. What we need to know is what the Government means by neutrality as an element in Irish foreign policy."
The Labour leader, Mr Ruair∅ Quinn, said his party's opposition was based on "moral and strategic grounds". The Afghan people could not be equated with the Taliban.
He shared the same goals enunciated by Mr Cowen at the UN but did not believe a unilateral military action that risked the lives of innocent Afghans should play a part in the campaign against terrorism.
"The Government was wrong to offer this blank cheque especially as it did so without either informing or debating the proposal in this House."
Mr Caoimhgh∅n ╙ Caolβin (SF, Cavan Monaghan) questioned the constitutionality of the decision to give NATO aircraft access to Irish airports. He also criticised former PD leader Mr Dessie O'Malley for making use of the debate on the attacks to make "scurrilous attacks" on Sinn FΘin.
Mr O'Malley said terrorism still stalked Ireland and people had waited a long time for the IRA to decommission its arms. He said the quantities of semtex available to the IRA could destroy a great deal of Manhattan.
Green Party TD Mr Trevor Sargent (Dublin North) was suspended from the Dβil for attempting to call for a vote on the decision to allow the use of Irish airports for US military aircraft. His colleague Mr John Gormley (Dublin south East) said the airports decision was unconstitutional and believed many Fianna Fβil members were opposed to such military use of Irish airports.
