One of the Independent TDs formally supporting the Fianna FailPD Coalition last night called on the Government to hold a referendum on Partnership for Peace.
Ms Mildred Fox said she would be raising the issue with the Chief Whip, Mr Seamus Brennan, when she meets him to discuss the review of the Programme for Government in the next week.
"Fianna Fail gave a commitment to the people to hold a referendum on Partnership for Peace in the 1987 general election and they should stick to that commitment now," Ms Fox told The Irish Times. "There are many people out there who supported the Government on that basis and I do not see why it should be allowed to renege on that promise at this stage."
Ms Fox said she had received many representations on the matter from constituents. Asked if she would be supporting the Labour Party Private Member's Bill requiring the Government to hold a consultative plebiscite on PfP in the new Dail term, Ms Fox replied: "I will meet with Seamus Brennan first before I make any decision in that regard."
Meanwhile, Fine Gael yesterday described the Labour Party proposal for a referendum on Partnership for Peace as "a nonsense".
The party spokesman on foreign affairs, Mr Gay Mitchell, said the Constitution had already been amended by referendums to give effect to the Maastricht and Amsterdam treaties, both of which acknowledge an evolving role in security for the EU. He said any consultative referendum would be no more than a costly political exercise due to opposition political game-playing.
"All of the other EU neutrals have signed up for Partnership for Peace. Even Switzerland, a country which will not join the UN and which holds referendums several times each year, did not hold a referendum on Partnership for Peace so small was the step in their view," said Mr Mitchell.