USE OF SHANNON: Fianna Fáil will not hold a meeting of its parliamentary party before the special Dáil debate tomorrow on the imminent war in Iraq, it emerged yesterday.
This is despite calls by certain backbenchers for a meeting before Ireland's attitude to an invasion of Iraq was finalised and indications last week that one would be convened.
But as the Cabinet prepared to discuss the continued provision of Shannon Airport and Irish airspace to the US, there is little sign that the Government will face a backbench revolt tomorrow.
Supporting the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern's handling of the issue, Fianna Fáil Clare TD Mr Tony Killeen said: "I could not argue with the way that he has discharged his duties. In fact, I think he has done it particularly well."
Last week, the Taoiseach made clear his preference for continued US access to Shannon, when he declared that Ireland had not withdrawn facilities during the Vietnam War or the crisis in Kosovo.
Minister of State for Justice, Mr Willie O'Dea, was even more definite in his support for the continued availability of Shannon, even though the Government should also voice its disapproval of unilateral US/UK action. "Generally, we should make it absolutely clear that we do not agree with them going to war without a UN sanction, but I see a total distinction between that and the continued use of Shannon.
"I take the view that if you can stop something, then fine you take the sacrifice, but if you can't then the sacrifices are a futile gesture," said the Limerick East TD.
Still, several Government backbenchers expressed unease with the indications so far from Mr Ahern that services would not be withdrawn from the US military.
Though he believed Fianna Fáil TDs should be able to debate the Dáil motion at a meeting of the parliamentary party in advance of the debate, Dún Laoghaire TD Mr Barry Andrews said he believed there was no justification for war in the absence of a new UN resolution.
But Mr Andrews, who tabled a motion to the party last month calling for such a resolution, said he believed there would be "little" to be gained politically from any withdrawal of services.
Former minister of state Mr Eoin Ryan said the Government has to be conscious of the support given to date by President Bush and the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, on Northern Ireland.
"We are asking people to move this on to a final resolution. It is extremely difficult for us to then turn around and say, 'No'. It could be seen as a gesture, but such a gesture would come at a huge cost to peace in Northern Ireland."
Waterford TD Mr Ollie Wilkinson declined to state whether he would support the Government before the Taoiseach defined his position.
Cork North-Central TD, Mr Billy Kelleher, said he believed that the Government would not be able to prevent the US using Shannon to move troops. But he added: "Certainly the use of Shannon airport for transporting military weapons, armaments and ammunition should be discouraged."
Cork South-Central TD Mr John Dennehy said he would "not be totally happy" if the US continued to use Shannon, while Mayo TD Mr John Carty said Irish governments had set precedents by providing services to the US during previous wars. Therefore, the Government had very little scope for manoeuvre, he said, adding that many Irish people had relatives in the US.
Two other TDs, who did not want their view attributed, expressed discomfort with Shannon's continued use. One said he would be supporting the Government but said he found the US approach "selective".