Speaking in advance, Cllr. Fleming said :

" Eoin Dubsky from Ballymoney was recently brought before the courts following a protest at Shannon Warport where he spray-painted an anti-war slogan on a U.S. Military Aircraft. He is at present taking the government to the High Court due to the fact that they are assisting George Bush's war efforts against Iraq by allowing hundreds of military aircraft use our airport which not only makes a joke of our supposed policy of neutrality, but it is also illegal!

"When George Bush's father waged war against Iraq an estimated 400, 000 people died as a result. The vast majority of people are totally opposed to this war which everyone now knows has nothing to do with "weapons of mass destruction" but is rather about U.S. control in the region. This state is supposed to be neutral so we certainly shouldn't be assisting Bush's war plans

"I want to see Gorey Town Council setting an example for other local authorities in telling this government loud and clear that we don't agree with the use of either Irish airports or airspace for war preparation by foreign powers."

2 motions to be proposed:

1.    (a)" In this the European Year of the Disabled, this council notes the lack of wheelchair accessibility to many of the towns public buildings and sites, including the public toilet.

     (b) "This council will prepare an audit of such buildings noting those which are in need of wheelchair access."

2.   (a)"This council notes the work of Ballymoney based peace activist, Eoin Dubsky, who has appeared in court recently following his campaign to highlight the misuse of Shannon airport by U.S. war planes and further supports his campaign of opposition to war in the Middle East."

     (b)"This council objects to the policy of allowing the U.S. military use Shannon airport as part of their plans for waging war in the Middle East"