The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, should call off his meeting with President Bush at the White House tomorrow as a protest against US policy on Iraq, a number of anti-war groups said in Dublin yesterday.
"The prospect of the Taoiseach offering shamrock to President Bush while he unleashes a military onslaught against the people of Iraq will appal many people throughout Ireland and the world," the peace and human rights group Afri (Action from Ireland) said in a statement.
Mr Ahern will present the traditional bowl of shamrock to President Bush in the White House tomorrow morning. A 30-minute private meeting between the two men is scheduled afterwards.
Afri claimed:, "The Taoiseach is either unwilling or unable to represent to the US administration the views of the Irish people, whose opposition to war was clearly demonstrated on February 15th when over 100,000 people came on to the streets for peace.
"Afri believes that the presence of the Taoiseach will give a semblance of legitimacy to a war that is overwhelmingly opposed by people, and indeed governments, throughout the world.
"The Taoiseach, who appears to be too in awe of US power to offer any critique of it, should not allow himself or his office to be used in this manner."
If, however, the Taoiseach decided to go ahead with the meeting, he should state "loudly and clearly that the Irish people are utterly opposed to this war and to any participation by Ireland in it," the Afri statement concluded.
Similar views were expressed at a press conference of three other anti-war groups, called to announce plans for immediate protests in the event of war being launched on Iraq.
Mr Brendan Butler of the Non-Governmental Organisation Peace Alliance said it was "an insult to the vast majority of the Irish people that its Taoiseach should continue to kow-tow to the war preparations of the Bush administration by continuing to allow US military planes to use Shannon Airport facilities, en route to the Gulf.
"By our Government's refusal to support positive moves for peace at the UN, it is implicating the Irish people with the US war plans and, if the war goes ahead, the name of the Irish people will be sullied forever," Mr Butler said.
The NGO Peace Alliance, the Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA) and the Irish Anti-War Movement (IAWM) announced further details of their plans for a three-stage response to any outbreak of war.
This includes a protest at 6 p.m. that evening, a ten-minute "social stoppage" at workplaces and schools throughout Ireland at noon the next day , and demonstrations in Dublin and other cities and towns the following Saturday.
"Stop the world to stop the war" is the agreed slogan for the protests. Mr Roger Cole of PANA said they were trying, not only to stop the war, but also the "collaboration" with the war on the part of the Government.
Mr Richard Boyd Barrett of the IAWM said people were being asked to wear white ribbons and armbands to signal their opposition to the war.
Mr Butler said a request had been made by anti-war groups for a meeting with the Taoiseach to discuss the Iraqi situation and the Government's approach to it.
They had been told there was no slot available as the Taoiseach's diary was full, and they regarded this as a refusal of their request.
He asked members of the public to support a 24-hour fast against war in Iraq outside the US Embassy, beginning at noon this Saturday.