The Government has responded favourably to the Iraqi government's decision to admit United Nations weapons inspectors without preconditions. A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said last night that the offer "must be taken on its merits and given a chance" to succeed.
"We are glad that the matter is before the Security Council which is the best way forward and we also welcome the efforts of the United Nations Secretary-General," the spokesman said.
"The decision to admit inspectors in accordance with the resolutions is clearly a highly important development. The fact that the Iraqi government have set no preconditions for the entry of the inspectors is very welcome.
"We would now want to see matters move rapidly so that words are matched by deeds and discussions on the practical arrangements between Iraq and the UN Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission take place promptly, followed by the rapid commencement of work on the ground.
The spokesman added that careful monitoring of developments would be needed to ensure a rapid move to the inspections, with "unstinting co-operation" from the Iraqi authorities.
"We believe that the move by Iraq is a beginning for what must be a longer process of complete compliance with its international obligations and that the offer must be taken on its merits and given a chance to succeed.
"We hope that a sequence of events will unfold which will avoid the use of force, remove any threat to peace and security and lead to the lifting of sanctions. Ultimately, Iraq has it within its own power to ensure that this will happen."
The spokesman pointed out that in his speech to the UN General Assembly in New York last week, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, said: "Iraq has been in violation of Security Council resolutions, in particular on arms inspection, for some considerable time."
The Minister affirmed Ireland's continued strong support for the "good offices" of the UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, in his efforts to encourage Iraqi compliance.
It is reported that last Friday Mr Cowen, along with the other nine elected, temporary members of the council, took part in a discussion on the Iraq issue in New York with the US Secretary of State, Mr Colin Powell.
As a council member until the end of this year, Ireland is involved in efforts to resolve the impasse over Iraqi weapons, although it is not one of the five permanent members of the council who have veto powers, namely, China, France, Russia, Britain and the US.
In a statement issued in Dublin, Labour's spokesman on foreign affairs, Mr Michael D. Higgins, said what had been missing in the past was "the active involvement of countries such as Ireland which have the potential to win the confidence of both sides".
He added that, as a council member, "Ireland should not only be actively seeking to avert military conflict, but should also be willing to play an active part in the inspection process".