The House meets today at a time of great uncertainty, when parliaments and people all over the world are discussing the possible onset of war in Iraq. I consider it an indictment of the Government that this House has not yet had a full, open debate, with questions to members of the Government, about the Government's stance on the possible catastrophic economic and social consequences for humanity of such a war. The Government has been hiding behind language. I hope the Taoiseach will answer this simple question in simple and understandable language: has the Cabinet discussed, and made a decision on, this country's attitude towards the facilities for refuelling being made available at Shannon, first, in the event of UN sanction being given under a second resolution for a military invasion of Iraq, and second, in the event of a military invasion taking place unilaterally? What would the Government do, in the latter case, about the refuelling facilities? Would they be closed down or would the Government continue to make them available?

A detailed debate on this matter will take place tonight. The Government has discussed this a number of times, including in a long discussion today, and the Minister will bring—

It is totally disorderly to have a display of this manner. The Deputies are completely out of order.

A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I feel it is necessary that the Government sees the message because it is not hearing it.

The Deputy is out of order and should resume his seat.

They need to see the message. There is an element of deafness in the Government.

The Deputy is in blatant contravention of Standing Orders. He should resume his seat and the other Deputies should remove the notice.

They are full of slogans.

It is necessary that we get a reply from the Government as to whether its members have seen the message. There is a degree of deafness and there may also be a degree of blindness.

The Deputy should resume his seat. He is in blatant contravention of Standing Orders and he knows it. The Deputies should remove the notice.

To make the point, the notice is required. We will obviously not get a reply from the Government, so we will have to leave. I make the point that the Government has not respected the Constitution.

I am not coming into this House to have its regulations and rules disobeyed. If Deputy Sargent and his group want to interrupt Leaders' Questions, two can play at that game.

The Constitution is more important.

We defend the Constitution more than the Deputy's party ever will.

They should go and daub their slogans.

The Deputy should hand back his salary. They are all talk but no action – he did not hand back the salary he talked about.

Order. This is Leaders' Questions. The Taoiseach, to continue his reply.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs will make a detailed statement on all the circumstances tonight. The Deputy asked what would happen over the next few weeks because there is much uncertainty about what may or may not happen between the US and the UK. The Government totally and absolutely supports the position as set out by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan – we want to see a peaceful resolution to this issue. The Secretary General does not consider that we have commenced a war. He is not opposed to any military build-up to try to get compliance with Resolution 1441 of 8 November 2002. Until action takes place, the traditional arrangements for fuelling and flyovers will remain. Our preferred solution is that the Security Council debates the new report when it is issued, probably in mid-February, and agrees a new resolution. Whatever happens from that point will be based on the report and its contents. We would like to see this dealt with successfully without military action but that is in the hands of the Iraqi authorities.

If there is no resolution at the UN , or it does not get to debate or agree a resolution, and there is unilateral action by the US on its own, the US and the UK, or the US, the UK and others, without a mandate from the Security Council, we will have to consider the position at that stage. We would have to revert to the House and the Government would have to make a decision. I hope it does not come to that but we have put contingency arrangements in place if that is the way it falls. I think that answers the Deputy's questions.

For the information of the House, many issues were raised over the Christmas break about the various procedures and we will outline them in great detail in a contribution this evening.

I am not a supporter of the brutal regime of Saddam Hussein and we completely understand the economic, political and social ties between this country and the United States, however we are a sovereign independent people. The Taoiseach did not answer whether the Cabinet had discussed or made any decision on this, nor has he referred to Ireland's central role in European affairs – this country was critical to the expansion of the European Union arising from the people's decision in the referendum on the Treaty of Nice. We should know what the position and attitude of the Cabinet will be in the event of an invasion taking place without UN sanction. It is a shame the Dáil has not had an opportunity to debate this, not just by way of Private Members' motion, but with questions and answers so the people's representatives can give their views on what could be a catastrophic occasion. When the first bombs fall on Baghdad it will be too late to call the House back for such a debate. Will the Taoiseach tell us what is his and the Government's attitude regarding the need for UN sanction for action and is he bringing that response to the other leaders of Europe as is his duty and responsibility?

Our view is in line with that of the vast majority of European countries although I am not here to answer for them. In the event of military action being initiated against Iraq, either with or without UN sanction, the Government will review the situation, initiate a debate in the Dáil, including, if appropriate, the adoption of a motion similar to that which we passed during the Gulf War in 1991. I will not try to predict, as the Deputy is asking me, what Saddam Hussein and his corrupt regime will do or what he has done with the 6,500 chemical bombs, the equipment – logged on previous inspections and now missing – and the implements he is known to have and cannot account for or why he is not fully co-operating with the inspectors who have been unable to meet scientists. I hope he will listen to what the world is saying – the Security Council vote in November was 14 to 0, the meeting in Turkey of Saddam's neighbours last week asked him to co-operate. Practically everyone in the world has asked him to co-operate fully and comprehensively but to date he has refused to do so.

I share Deputy Kenny's view. I do not want to see this turn into a catastrophe but the one person – it is ironic in the modern age that one person can call the shots – who can end all this, send everybody home and stand down the military action is Saddam Hussein. It is a matter of grave concern that he is prepared to allow the world to get into a complex and difficult situation with all the ramifications that might have. I would prefer to see this issue resolved within the international body of the United Nations which is designed to bring world peace and stability. I do not like unilateral action – I have said so inside and outside the House. I would prefer if the Americans gave more time. I hope they do, and that is what the Security Council is saying – Kofi Annan has set out the terms clearly. I reiterate that Kofi Annan does not consider the military build-up to be an act of war. He sees it as the only way of forcing Saddam Hussein to deal with issues he has refused to deal with for 13 years. I hope that will resolve the problem. If the situation changes, I will keep Deputies Kenny and Rabbitte and others informed.