The Taoiseach has defended the Government's stance on the US-led war on Iraq saying his administration upheld the authority of the UN and was "not answerable for pre-emptive strikes" on any country.
Mr Ahern was responding to a question in the Dáil from Labour leader Mr Pat Rabbitte on whether the Government supported the US's "new doctrine of pre-emptive war".
Mr Rabbitte said the public was distressed by the Government's handling of the crisis and its apparent position of supporting "America right or wrong".
However, Mr Ahern said the Government supported the system of collective international security with the UN Security Council at the centre.
"I stand for the United Nations, I believe in the United Nations and I want to see the UN being complied with fully," he said.
Earlier, the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs denied that Ireland is a member of the so-called "coalition of the willing" aiding the US-led attack on Iraq.
"We're not on that list," Mr Tom Kitt said this morning.
He insisted that even if the US Defence Secretary, Mr Donald Rumsfeld, regarded Ireland as one of the 15 countries providing tacit support to the US in the form of airspace, it was not "a huge issue" anyway.
"There is speculation I understand that Mr Rumsfeld has another list of those who are some way involved in overflights... and it is possible we are on that list.
"It is not a huge issue as far as I'm concerned because it is not our list, it is their list."