There was sustained Opposition criticism of the Government's handling of the Iraqi crisis during a debate on Monday's EU summit.
The Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, said his party was revising its political proposition. "It is one based on principle, not expediency. It is a new politics, for new people, for a new time. But the Fine Gael view clearly extends to Europe in this instance.
"The old order is indeed changing; we must leave NATO politics firmly where it belongs, in the last century. Committed Europeans, from the Balkans right here to the Atlantic, are looking beyond the structures of the Cold War to create a new security architecture - one based not on isolation and fear, but on cohesion, trust and hope. It is a security architecture that will carry and indeed amplify Europe's voice in world affairs, particularly in international conflict resolution."
Mr Kenny said that in this new order, Ireland was not so much silent as silenced. "We are mute, because the Taoiseach has, once again, refused to remove himself from his traditional comfort zone - the fence. He calls himself a man of the people. But yet, when those people take to the streets, in their hundred thousands, for the first time in a generation, he shifts and he smarts." Thanks to the Taoiseach, Ireland sits on the fence while Kurdish families sealed their homes with plastic sheeting to await the attack by nerve gas. "Thanks to the Taoiseach we sit on the fence while Iraqi families cower in their homes, contemplating yet another unholy war."
The Labour leader, Mr Pat Rabbitte, said he was surprised that the Government, in supporting the European position, had managed to remain so silent on the subject of regime change.
"The Irish Government is committed, under Article 29 of the Constitution, to the ideal of peace and friendly co-operation amongst nations founded on international justice and morality and to the principle of the pacific settlement of international disputes by international arbitration or judicial determination.
"While that commitment does not preclude us from supporting action endorsed by the United Nations, and consistent with the United Nations charter, it does, I assert, prevent our Government from acquiescing in, or supporting, or facilitating in any way a war whose purpose is to get rid of a regime we do not like."
Mr Rabbitte asked why it was not possible for Ireland to lead the demand for peaceful disarmament through the United Nations. "Why are we not insisting that the next step, in line with international law, ought to be Iraq's acceptance of a process that moves beyond inspection to actual disarmament?"
The Green Party leader, Mr Trevor Sargent, said the Government's policy was to follow what others were saying. "It is clear that the Government does not rule out the use of force, and it is clear that it is also prepared to limit the inspections, although the Taoiseach has said the inspectors should have as much time as they like."
Dr Jerry Cowley (Independent, Mayo) said he had been impressed by the people who marched for peace last weekend. They wanted to be listened to, he said. "They have not been listened to. War is not inevitable."
Ms Marian Harkin (Independent, Sligo-Leitrim) also insisted that war was not inevitable. "The marches sent a strong message to all politicians: that the inspectors should be allowed to get on with their work and proceed with the disarming of Iraq."
Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (SF, Cavan-Monaghan) said the Government was not acting in the name of Irish people in allowing Shannon Airport to be used for the war build-up. "The Government does not act in the name of the Irish people when it pays taxpayers' money to facilitate the overflight of military aircraft through our airspace."
