The Green Party has accused the Minister for Foreign Affairs of taking a "totally equivocal" stance on current and impending conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Mr John Gormley TD said Mr Cowen had done more to dismantle "what's left of Irish neutrality" than any other minister.
At a Dublin news conference, Mr Gormley said the Government was guilty of "spinelessness" on the Iraq question. Presenting a Green Party position paper on Iraq, he said that in granting landing rights at Shannon to US military aircraft without seeking the assent of the Dáil, the Government was treating the Constitution "with contempt".
"The totally equivocal stance by Minister Cowen on the question of Afghanistan and Iraq shows that the concept of Irish neutrality is in tatters. The Americans now treat Shannon as a domestic military airport. Soldiers in desert fatigues can be seen walking around the airport complex and will talk openly about their destination."
He continued: "The majority of people in this country are opposed to a war against Iraq. It will mean more suffering of women and children who are already suffering under Saddam Hussein and because of the UN sanctions. The spinelessness of this Government on the Iraq question is another indication of their moral bankruptcy." Its record on neutrality was "appalling".
He added: "It is quite remarkable that a small party like the Green Party can be the voice of the majority of people in this country. It shows that there is something terribly wrong . . . what is wrong with the political establishment when they cannot represent the majority of people?" He called on Mr Cowen "to do something, to have the moral backbone to go up there and say, 'Enough is enough.' The Germans have done it, why isn't neutral Ireland doing anything?" He called for an immediate recall of the Dáil.
Cllr Deirdre de Búrca said Ireland should oppose unilateral US military action or any UN resolution authorising military action on Iraq. "Ireland has to be willing to stand up at times like this and take a position of moral leadership."
Mr Eamon Ryan TD said: "We have a history in the past, under someone like Frank Aiken [minister for External Affairs 1951-1954 and 1957-1969\] where we did maintain a more independent policy."