GOVERNMENT STANCE: The final wording of the Government's motion dealing with the threatened invasion of Iraq by the US and the UK will not be decided until today's meeting of the Cabinet.
A draft wording was being prepared by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, who returns from an EU meeting in Brussels at lunchtime today. He was in contact several times with the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.
Meanwhile, Mr Ahern spoke with the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, and a number of unidentified backbenchers, according to a Government's spokeswoman.
The draft text will allow for Shannon's continued availability to the US military on the grounds that this does not mark a shift in Ireland's traditional policy of neutrality. However, ministers are expected to stress Ireland's economic and political ties to the US, particularly its help on Northern Ireland, when they speak tomorrow.
The Government's plan to limit tomorrow's Dáil debate to six hours will be opposed strongly by the Opposition. "We want people on the record on this one," said Labour chief whip Mr Emmet Stagg.
So far Fine Gael has said that Shannon should not be available to the US if it invades Iraq, though a final decision on the motion will not be made until it is presented today by the Government.
The Progressive Democrat parliamentary party is expected to discuss the wording informally amid concerns by some members about the lack of UN approval for US action.
Former minister of state for foreign affairs Ms Liz O'Donnell told The Irish Times: "I would have reservations about that. I would have to listen to the arguments about political and economic ties to the US.
"My gut feeling is that some gesture of disapproval, or at least lack of approval, should be made by Ireland, whether or not that requires the total withdrawal of facilities."
Last week, Pdeputy Ms Fiona O'Malley said she believed Shannon should be used only for humanitarian purposes, not military flights, if there was no second UN resolution.
Meanwhile, Socialist Party TD Mr Joe Higgins said the Government should give the US "immediate notice" that Shannon and Irish airspace was no longer available to them. If the Government does not act, workers at Shannon Airport should withdraw their labour to prevent military refuellings, while air-traffic controllers should block US military aircraft overflights.
Labour TD Mr Joe Costello said the late recall of the Dáil was "inexcusable" and "an affront to democracy".
"At a time when parliaments all over the world are debating this crisis, Ireland is being made to look a laughing stock. The Taoiseach has obfuscated for months but he must now set out a coherent and cohesive approach to the looming war. It is now clear that the United States will lead a war on Iraq within days."
Green Party chairman Mr John Gormley called on Government backbenchers to "stand up and be counted" in tomorrow's debate. "The Greens want to know where the Robin Cooks are in this coalition Government. Bertie Ahern has said that a second UN resolution was a political imperative yet despite all the signals that war will commence by Thursday the Taoiseach still refuses to get off the fence and clarify Ireland's position."
Opinion polls have suggested that Progressive Democrat supporters in particular are unhappy with the prospect of a war in the absence of a UN resolution.
"They can no longer hide on this issue. Under the circumstances, the Taoiseach should permit a free vote. I have no doubt that deputies free from the pressure of the party whip system would vote with their consciences."
He continued: "They may feel they can gloss over the deaths of thousands of innocent people, or justify this illegal war, but there is no escaping the fact that they will be irreparably damaged."
