The former Fine Gael leader Mr Michael Noonan failed to vote yesterday on a Government motion allowing the US military to continue using Shannon Airport.
The Limerick TD was present in the Dáil chamber for the vote on the Fine Gael motion, indicating that he was not paired by the Opposition. This would have excused him without affecting the party's vote.
Mr Noonan could not be contacted last night to explain why he did not vote on the Government motion. He was among several party figures who did not vote, among them Clare TD Mr Pat Breen.
Another, Cork TD Mr Jim O'Keeffe said he did not vote on the Government motion because he had "reservations" about not supporting the position of the US and Britain.
The Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, called on the Government to withdraw landing and overflight services from the US military because the war on Iraq had no United Nations mandate. However, the policy was not included in the party's Dáil motion.
Former TD Mr Gerry Reynolds resigned the party whip on Leitrim County Council yesterday in protest at the policy. Mr Reynolds said he believed the party's call for the withdrawal of services was fundamentally flawed.
"A lot of Fine Gael supporters have expressed that view to me," he said.
"It's a lurch to the left that I believe there is no need for Fine Gael to do. I believe we are losing supporters in the centre and the right."
Mr Reynolds, who was travelling to the US yesterday for a working holiday, said he had expressed his unease at a party conference in Dublin last month. Two of his cousins were killed in the attack on the World Trade Centre in New York. In a letter yesterday to Mr Kenny he said his reservations were shared by "many members of the party".
Mr Kenny expressed regret at Mr Reynolds's departure. He had written to him stating that the party's position had been consistent. In the event of hostilities, there was a requirement for a UN resolution to enable the US military to use Shannon.
Mr Kenny rejected as a "concoction", claims by the Fianna Fáil TD Mr Conor Lenihan that a reference to Shannon was "pulled" because Mr Breen "was not going to support the motion if it referred explicitly to the closure of Shannon".
Mr Breen could not be contacted yesterday evening, despite indications from the party's press office that he was aware The Irish Times was seeking to speak with him.
Mr Kenny said he had spoken to Mr Breen and to other TDs, including Mr Noonan, about the party's policy.
He said there had been concern that the party might be associated with protests at Shannon.
Mr O'Keeffe said Mr Kenny "understood my position". He added: "As a matter of policy I would have some reservations about not supporting the US-UK position. It isn't a big deal."