As we move towards St. Patrick's weekend, the world is consumed with arguments about the possibility of war on Iraq. Europe is now sharply divided on this issue. In recent weeks, I have endeavoured in the House to get a straight answer from the Taoiseach by direct questioning on the Government's attitude towards this potentially catastrophic situation. The Taoiseach travels to the United States today and has a private meeting with the US President tomorrow. He has already confirmed that he is opposed to war, that he supports the United Nations and that he has a difference of opinion with America on the issue of Iraq. He has also confirmed that he does not want to insult the American Government and people.

In that context, has the Minister for Foreign Affairs been contacted by the US Secretary of State, Mr. Powell, in regard to Ireland's position on Iraq if an invasion by the United States takes place without a UN resolution? Has the Taoiseach had any contact from the US President on this point? If that is not the case, will the Taoiseach during his private meeting with President Bush tomorrow – as one friendly leader to another – inform the President that in the event of action being taken against Iraq by the United States on its own or with Britain without a second resolution from the United Nations, refuelling and over-flight facilities at Shannon will be withdrawn? Will the Taoiseach tell the American President in a straight manner that, as a friendly nation, friends can differ on issues of principle such as this?

I can confirm that the Government has had numerous discussions with the US Administration, including with its envoy in Dublin, Ms Jane Fort. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Cowen, has had a number of conversations with Ambassador Haass, and, while I do not think the Minister has had any discussions with Secretary of State Powell in recent days, he has had several discussions in past weeks. I understand that the Minister spoke with Ambassador Haass on Saturday and Monday last.

At my meetings in the United States, I will stress our consistent position which is support for the United Nations. I will restate that for the United Nations to be effective and respected, it must be united in purpose as well as in name. Saddam Hussein and his brutal regime in Iraq pose precisely the kind of threat to international peace and security with which the United Nations was created to deal. The ways and means of doing that were set out in the UN Charter in a very logical sequence and Ireland has supported the charter since 1955. The peoples of the United Nations, in whose name the charter is adopted, look to the members of the Security Council to try to find a compromise and to work together to do that. I hope they will succeed in that.

My position remains as it was. If there is no second resolution, that creates major difficulties for everybody and means that military action would be taken by countries without the support of international opinion. At the last hour, I will restate the need for force to be averted if Saddam Hussein seizes the opportunity available to him and if the Security Council is allowed to do its job. The Security Council is still trying to do that. It has a resolution in front of it and is endeavouring to come to agreement on it. The UN Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan, has been working to the best of his ability in recent days to try to achieve compromise.

If all of those things do not happen and war takes place unilaterally, the Government will recall the House and set out its position.

I know that this is a difficult call for the Taoiseach to make, depending on the question he is asked. However, the Taoiseach is meeting in private with the US President tomorrow for a meeting scheduled to last half an hour. He has referred to Ireland's consistent position.

What is it?

What is Ireland's consistent position?

That is the question.

If we support the United Nations and are opposed to war, can I assume that the Taoiseach will tell President Bush that, in the event of the US taking action against Iraq without a second resolution from the United Nations, Ireland's consistent position will be, in keeping with our United Nations traditions, that the over-flight and other facilities at Shannon will be withdrawn? Is that our consistent position and will the Taoiseach tell that to the American President?

Has the Government considered the question of support for the British position in regard to a second resolution and does the Taoiseach have a view on that?

With regard to the first question, the Government has already relayed to the United States its concerns so it will not be hearing our position for the first time. However, I will relay those concerns again. The Government has, of course, discussed what action it will take if certain eventualities arise. I hope while in the United States to have the opportunity to state that. Deputy Kenny would also appreciate that, in the absence of a second resolution, we will set out a position in a way that befits whatever action we must take.

What does that mean?

There is no point in Members asking for a recall of the House in order for the Government to restate its position when the situation arises while, at the same time, calling on me to state that position now. I have not stated it since September and will not do so now. I am sure that Deputy Kenny and Deputy Michael D. Higgins, who cannot speak during Leaders' Questions, would, like me, acknowledge France's position which is very strong on all these issues. France has already stated its willingness to allow stop-over flights—

France is not a neutral country. It is a member of NATO.

The 22 Arab states have stated their intention to provide landing facilities. Some flights that did not land in Ireland in recent weeks went instead to Germany. I am sure the Deputies also note Germany's position.

What is our position?

I will set out and explain our position. Our position is consistently and strongly one of support for the work of the United Nations until such time as that fails.