THE FINNISH President yesterday sought Irish support for a proposal to give non aligned EU states a central role in mandating the Western European Union to carry out peacekeeping and humanitarian missions.

Mr Maarti Ahtisaari raised the proposal, tabled this week by his country and Sweden at the EU's Inter Governmental Conference, in talks with the Taoiseach in Dublin yesterday. Under the plan, states - such as Ireland and Finland - which are not full WEU members would have an equal say with full members in mandating WEU peacekeeping and humanitarian missions.

The Maastricht Treaty agreed that the Western European Union is an integral part of the development of the EU, but it is still a separate body. Some EU states favour a full merger of the EU and the WEU. However, the neutral and non aligned countries within the EU - such as Ireland and Finland - oppose such a merger, as they would then be part of a military alliance.

This Swedish/Finnish proposal would allow the neutrals to avoid making any mutual defence commitments to other WEU members. But it would allow them to participate fully in making decisions about peacekeeping and humanitarian operations.

Mr Ahtisaari said yesterday that Ireland supported this proposal. There has been an "overwhelmingly positive reaction" to the initiative from the member states, he said at a press conference. It was designed to "ensure that small member states which are non aligned have an influence on the process and it has served that purpose well".

A Government spokesman said afterwards that the Irish attitude to this proposal was "one of general welcome". The Tanaiste said last week the Government was "studying with great interest" the proposal. However, no final Government position has been adopted.

Mr Ahtisaari and the Taoiseach also discussed priorities for the Irish EU presidency, Northern Ireland, the peace process in former Yugoslavia, the situation in Russia and the Baltic states and the role of small states in the EU.

On the North, Mr Ahtisaari said it was clear that both the Irish and British governments want to find a solution to the Northern Ireland question. The Irish side had emphasised the importance of the Mitchell principles and of support for them.

Earlier yesterday morning, Mr Ahtisaari had meetings with the Fianna Fail leader, Mr Bertie Ahern, and the Progressive Democrats leader, Ms Mary Harney. Yesterday afternoon he visited the South Inner City Community Development Initiative, accompanied by the Minister of State for European Affairs, Mr Gay Mitchell, in whose constituency the initiative is based.

Yesterday evening he visited TCD and hosted a reception in Dublin in honour of the President and Mr Robinson.