Former Taoiseach Mr Albert Reynolds is to address a conference in Washington next Thursday as Government concern mounts over his Dail attendance. The Government Chief Whip is anxious that Mr Reynolds be in the House for next month's Budget vote.
Mr Reynolds is billed as a keynote speaker during a week-long festival inspired by the Rev Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Church, also known as the "Moonies". Three other former prime ministers - Mr John Major of Britain, Mr Michel Rocard of France and Ms Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan - will also address the conference, entitled "A World Vision for the 21st Century".
Yesterday, Mr Reynolds rejected as untrue claims that he had not responded to three-line whips requiring his presence in the Dail for voting. He expressed "disappointment" at repeated reports about his attendance record since his failure to secure the Fianna Fail presidential nomination.
Mr Reynolds said yesterday he had been unable to go to the President's inauguration because of a long-standing commitment to be guest speaker at a fund-raising dinner in Chicago for Dublin City University.
The Government Chief Whip, Mr Seamus Brennan, said yesterday that the situation was "somewhat different now because this is a minority government" operating with the support of three Independent TDs. He will speak personally to Mr Reynolds in the next few days to see if he can attend the Budget vote on December 3rd. But he is satisfied Mr Reynolds will be there to support the Government when necessary.
Mr Reynolds said he was attending the Dail "in the normal way that a former Taoiseach would and the same as I have done for 2 1/2 years. So why the hype and why the mystery now?"
Upon leaving office, former Taoisigh are given considerable latitude in terms of voting, involvement in Dail business and attending parliamentary party meetings.
A highlight of the week-long Washington festival - called the World Culture and Sports Festival - will be "Blessing 97" at the RFK Stadium where 30,000 couples will declare their commitment to marriage, their family and a peaceful world. Whitney Houston, a singer Mr Reynolds admires, will also perform as part of the grand finale.
More than 3.6 million couples will participate via satellite and video. Up to 1,000 couples will be dressed in wedding attire and will commit themselves to marry a church-selected partner.
The keynote speaker at the festival's World Media Conference, Mr Lou Dobbs, president of CNN's financial channel, has withdrawn, saying that he did not know it was linked to the Unification Church.