The Bush administration has been accused by Fine Gael of "hypocrisy" in its dealings with Sinn Féin at a time when the United States claims to be fighting a war against terrorism.
The charge came from Fine Gael's Waterford TD, Mr John Deasy, ahead of a visit to the US and Canada this week by Sinn Féin president Mr Gerry Adams.
On Thursday, Mr Adams will address the Friends of Sinn Féin's $500-a-head annual dinner at the Sheraton Hotel in Manhattan, while he will address another party fund-raiser in Hamilton, New Jersey, on Friday.
Despite such profitable occasions, Sinn Féin last year told the Standards in Public Office Commission that it received just $44,500 in contributions from the United States during 2001.
Also this week, Mr Adams will reject charges that republicans can be blamed for the latest hurdle in the peace process, when he meets President Bush's special envoy on Northern Ireland, Mr Richard Haass.
Mr Deasy said: "I think it is hypocritical of the US administration to allow such events to proceed when they are involved with a 'war on terrorism' and are planning an attack on Iraq.
"Sinn Féin is the political wing of a terrorist organisation that hasn't disbanded and to allow them continue raising funds in the US is very wrong," he said.
Questioning Sinn Féin's commitment to the peace process, Mr Deasy said Mr Adams's latest fund-raising trip comes shortly after the IRA discontinued its ties with the international decommissioning body. "Mr Adams heads up the political wing of a terrorist organisation that has said it will not disband," said Mr Deasy, who served as a Republican staffer in both the Senate and House of Representatives.
Perplexed by the lack of US opposition to the Adams trip, Mr Deasy said: "All shades of political opinion in the US are involved in stamping out terrorism, yet they allow themselves to be continually duped and include in their political circles a party with links to a terrorist organisation.
"How can anyone possibly take the US seriously in their war against terrorism? In Northern Ireland, this party will not co-operate with the newly formed police service, punishment beatings continue unabated, and the IRA will not disband or disarm. The Stormont raids showed a clear connection and a lasting link between Sinn Féin and the IRA.
"There is also the alleged involvement of Sinn Féin with the FARC rebels in Colombia. All these issues should ring alarm bells in the US."
The Ulster Unionist Party will try to upstage Mr Adams during his visit by publishing some press statements by Sinn Féin condemning the use by the US military of Shannon Airport. Already, a former senior State Department official, Mr Richard Perle, has said the anti-US attitudes displayed in the statements will surprise many US supporters of the party.
The Sinn Féin president will be guest of honour on Friday at a reception in the New Jersey governor's mansion, hosted by Gov Jim McGreevey, a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
Later, the New Jersey governor will host a $200-a-head fund-raiser for Sinn Féin. On Saturday, Mr Adams will attend the second annual Friends of Sinn Féin (Canada) dinner in Toronto.
Last year, Sinn Féin set up a federally incorporated not-for-profit company, Friends of Sinn Féin (Canada) Inc., to win support and raise funds for the party there.
Speaking after a meeting of Sinn Féin's Ard Comhairle in Dublin on Saturday, the party's chairman, Mr Mitchel McLaughlin, said there was "serious concern" that London will try to renegotiate the Good Friday accord.
