Taoiseach defends Cullen's New York visit

Minister for Transport Martin Cullen did "noting inappropriate" when he welcomed back US troops from Iraq at a wreath-laying ceremony in New York this month, the Taoiseach said today.

Speaking in the Dáil, Mr Ahern said Mr Cullen was invited by the Fighting 69th regiment of the US army to a wreath-laying ceremony on March 16th. The Taoiseach pointed out that the regiment's flag is on permanent display in Leinster House after it was presented to the State by John F Kennedy in 1963.

Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said Mr Cullen's attendance at the event was "stomach churning" following reports of the killing of innocent Iraqi civilians by US troops.

"Can you understand how it is stomach churning to read how Minister Martin Cullen, doing a nixer for the Minister for Defence, headed off with Irish troops to New York to 'welcome back US troops from Iraq'?" Mr Sargent asked Mr Ahern.

"Can you admit at the very least that that was ill-judged given that Minister Cullen said without even blushing 'it was an honour to represent the Government'? Is it not the best indication yet that you fully support what the US is doing in Iraq?"

Mr Ahern said Ireland was not assisting killings in Iraq.

He said the 69th regiment is better known as the Fighting Irish and "is the US army unit with the closest ties to Irish America and has lead the St Patrick's day parade up Fifth Avenue in New York every year for more than 150 years.

"The Minister did nothing inappropriate".

The ceremony included both US and Irish troops. Flanked by US soldiers wearing desert camouflage, Mr Cullen said Ireland was especially proud of the contribution made by many Irish men and women to the uniformed services of New York and the US.

The ceremony took place at the Fr Duffy statue in Times Square, a memorial to an Irish priest who worked in Manhattan. It featured bagpipers from the Irish Army's 28th Infantry.