The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, this afternoon, said he disagreed with the United States on the requirement for a second UN Resolution before there is any military action taken against Iraq.
The United States has long maintained that a second resolution is unnecessary for any military action because it already considers Saddam Hussein in breach of the UN Security Council's resolution on disarmament
Speaking on the RTÉ news this evening Mr Ahern said the most important issue for this country was the primacy of the United Nations.
He disagreed with the United States on whether or not they legally needed another UN Resolution before launching an attack on Iraq, saying that other countries, including Ireland, had another point of view.
Earlier today, the Taoiseach told the Dáil that his Government has had no discussions "directly or indirectly" with the White House about the use of Shannon Airport in the event of any unilateral strike on Iraq.
Mr Ahern said he was not going to take a "categorical position" on any unilateral US strike on Iraq prior to the event.
Responding to a question by Fine Gael leader Mr Edna Kenny, Mr Ahern said the Government "would be consistent to its position" and stand with the UN Security Council and do nothing to undermine the council.
The Taoiseach said he did not accept the view by some international leaders that a second UN resolution was not required for a military strike on Iraq.
He added that he still believed war could be avoided.
Mr Ahern is expected to face backbench dissent on the Iraq issue at a Fianna Fáil parliamentary party today.
A number of deputies are said to be uneasy about the size of the anti-War demonstrations and the possibility of allowing the US use Shannon if it launched its own war on Iraq.
Mr Ahern said American investment in the Republic was not the sole consideration in deciding policy, but that it should be borne in mind.
