Fine Gael has renewed its call for the Dáil to be recalled this week to debate the worsening crisis over Iraq.
The party's foreign affairs spokesman, Mr Gay Mitchell TD, said it was "wholly unacceptable" for the Dáil to be in recess when war is imminent and the lives of thousands of people are at stake.
"The European Union Common Foreign and Security policy is in disarray, EU applicant states have taken different sides, relations between the US and some EU states are at an all-time low, and the UN is in danger of going the way of the League of Nations," he said.
Mr Mitchell called on the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, to summon deputies to a Díl session before the European Council meets later this week.