A group of lawyers will launch a statement today opposing the visit to Ireland of US President George Bush.
"President Bush is clearly coming here to assist in his re-election campaign," said Mr Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha, one of the organisers.
"He is using Ireland as a photo opportunity in the campaign," he added.
He said that he and his colleagues felt it was essential that the people of Ireland made clear their opposition to the US president's policy on the war in Iraq. "The war in Iraq is illegal," he said. "We offer our views in a spirit of friendship for the people of the US."
He stressed that the lawyers were not purporting to have any special status, apart from their commitment to the idea that law was a way of deterring people from killing others without lawful reason, and to the need to uphold international law.
The launch of the statement today, signed so far by over 100 junior counsel and about 20 senior counsel, would also be an opportunity to appeal to other lawyers to join them, he said.
The statement would be sent to people in the US expected to be receptive, including professional bodies and those who "hold Ireland in affection".
"We hope they would listen to what people in Ireland think," he said.
"President Bush visited the Pope despite the critical things the Pope was likely to say about the war. It allowed him to have photos with the Pope which he hopes will assist in the election. He plans to use Ireland in the same way. That message has to be balanced."