The British government's decision to amend its motion before the United Nations Security Council calling for military action against Iraq, which will be presented to the UN later this week, has been welcomed by the Government.
The British Foreign Secretary, Mr Jack Straw, said the reworded motion would detail exactly the actions that President Saddam Hussein must take before March 17th if he is to avoid an invasion.
Last night the Department of Foreign Affairs pointed to the similarities between the new British proposal and the speech given in the Dáil on February 11th by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, during a lengthy debate on the Iraq crisis.
Then, Mr Cowen said there was a need for "a common understanding" on the actions required of the Iraqi regime, detailing the timetable and making clear what actions the UN Security Council would take if the actions were satisfactory, or otherwise.
Although the Government has repeatedly stressed the need for a second UN resolution, Foreign Affairs again refused to indicate the position Ireland will adopt if the US and the UK invade Iraq without the sanction of the Security Council.
"This situation is changing by the hour. There is no point responding to something if it is going to change again.
"This will be like a moveable feast over the coming days. That is usually what happens with UN motions," a Foreign Affairs spokesman said.
Meanwhile, the Dublin South East TD, Mr Eoin Ryan, encouraged leading French politicians to travel immediately to Baghdad for direct talks with President Saddam to prevent war.
"I believe France has a role to play as honest broker in what is now a most difficult circumstance," he said.
"It would be useful if senior French representatives were to visit President Hussein at this eleventh hour and urge Iraq to co-operate more actively with UN weapons inspectors. Iraq should do more, offer increased and more active co-operation.
"We should maintain strong pressure on it so that we reach, together and in peace, the objective we have set: the elimination of weapons of mass destruction," said Mr Ryan.