The Government does not expect that Ireland, as a neutral country, is in danger of attack with biological or chemical weapons. However a Government spokesman said last night that emergency plans were being updated.
The head of the World Health Organisation, Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, said yesterday that governments should prepare for possible attacks with biological or chemical weapons.
The Government spokesman said since Ireland was not part of any military alliance there was no expectation of becoming involved in a war situation. "There hasn't been a perceived threat in that context nor is there one," he said, adding that there was a possibility of "collateral damage" if there was an attack close by.
The co-ordinating committee at the Department of the Taoiseach, set up after the US atrocities, has been tracking the state of readiness of our emergency plans, he said. They have asked the Garda and the Army to "advise and update" their own emergency plans "in relation to specific credible threats" and "any organisational or other arrangements that need to be implemented as a result are being, or will be, put in place," he said.
Civil Defence, he said, does not have gas masks, while the Army has them in stock for foreign missions.
The Green Party said the Government's decision to allow the US to use its airports for military attacks could result in Ireland becoming the target of a chemical attack. Mr John Gormley said terrorist groups could now identify this country as participants in the American war effort and see us as "legitimate targets".
The Government spokesman said up to eight Government Departments had responsibility for emergency planning, depending on the nature of the perceived threat. Government sources stressed there was no evidence of chemical warfare being used, particularly not on a small, neutral country like Ireland. Contingency plans in place cover peace-time emergencies.
Mr Eamon Gilmore of the Labour Party asked why nobody in Government seems to know either who was responsible for the National Emergency Plan or its terms and provisions.
"It is beyond belief that confusion between a number of Government Departments on responsibility for the National Emergency Plan is so rife, particularly in the light of events in the United States two weeks ago.
Around 60 people held a peace vigil outside the Department of Foreign Affairs offices on St Stephen's Green, Dublin yesterday evening. It was organised by the NGO Peace Alliance, to protest against offering the use of Irish airports and airspace to the US military.
Mr Joe Murray of Afri , one of the organisers, said the protest was not meant to undermine the suffering of people in the US following the recent attacks.
"But we are very concerned to ensure that the same kind of suffering is not visited on other people, particularly people in one of the poorest countries in the world - Afghanistan," he said. "We believe Ireland should be playing a role in facilitating peace." Mr Denis Halliday, former UN humanitarian co-ordinator to Iraq, said Ireland's presidency of the Security Council offered the country a "huge opportunity".
"There's a responsibility to make sure that whatever the UN does against terrorism is consistent with international law," he said.
Later, another anti-war rally took place at Wynn's Hotel in Dublin.
The speakers included Mr Kieran Allen, the editor of Socialist Worker; Ms Deirdre de Burca, Green Party councillor; Dr John de Courcy Ireland, of CND; Mr Andy Storey, representing Afri and Mr Halliday.
Mr Allen said the Irish Government was out of touch with public opinion, which he said was opposed to military strikes.