The support of Government backbenchers for Shannon's continued availability to the US was sought yesterday by both the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the Tánaiste, Ms Harney.
Taking little for granted, Mr Ahern spoke with a number of backbenchers in advance of a Cabinet meeting, which was delayed until 2.30 p.m. because some ministers were delayed travelling back to Dublin after being abroad for St Patrick's Day .
So far, however, there is no evidence that any Fianna Fáil TD is ready to vote against the Government's motion, which will be put to a vote today in the Dáil.
Last night, Fianna Fáil Cork South Central TD Mr Batt O'Keeffe said: "I feel very strongly on this issue. I am in favour of Shannon being available to the United States. I would be very pro-US."
Meanwhile, Ms Harney spoke with her parliamentary party. "She was seeking the views of people," said the chairman of the parliamentary party, Sen John Minihan, last evening.
He continued: "I believe we have to continue to allow Shannon to be used. I do not say that lightly. I say it after a long period of reflection. I am very concerned about the humanitarian issue that will have to click into place now."
He said Shannon would not be part of the US military effort. "There aren't bombers taking off from there and there won't be. This isn't something we do lightly. There are no winners in this case."
Progressive Democrat Longford Roscommon TD Ms Mae Sexton said she supported the continued availability of Shannon to the US "with a heavy heart".
"I would not like to see it withdrawn." The Iraqi regime has had 12 years to comply with United Nations resolutions. "Despite the military build-up, Saddam Hussein obviously feels that he doesn't have to move."
The crisis in Bosnia during the 1990s had left her often "with tears of frustration and anger".
"I have long had doubts about the effectiveness of the United Nations. To withdraw now would make us all look foolish.
"There are a lot of Irish people living in the United States. A lot of Irish descendants are in the US army. Are we going to turn around and tell our own people that they can't refuel here?"
Despite opinion polls which have shown that Progressive Democrats do not support a war without a second UN resolution, Ms Sexton said she had not detected such a feeling in her own constituency.
"Everybody is against war. Nobody wanted it to come to this. But can we remain neutral? There are circumstances in which people have to take a position. I don't want my children to be involved in war."
Meanwhile, Fine Gael's foreign affairs spokesman, Mr Gay Mitchell, said he expected all of his colleagues to vote against the motion in line with party policy.
Fine Gael's ability to remain united in the Dáil will be helped by the absence of Waterford TD Mr John Deasy, who has already made it clear that he would have "great difficulty" opposing aid to the US.
Speaking before a meeting of the Fine Gael frontbench, Mr Mitchell said: "Every party is a coalition of interests. People have different views. None have come to me to say that they can't support it."
Today's vote will create difficulties for newly-elected Fine Gael Clare TD Mr Pat Breen, who has already organised meetings in the Shannon area in support of the airport's availability to the US.
The debate, which is scheduled to begin at 10.30 a.m. with an opening speech by Mr Ahern, will begin with a row about the Government's plan to limit the session to six hours.
Labour has already said it will seek an open-ended debate, while the group comprising the Greens, Sinn Féin and the independents has complained that its members will have just two minutes each to speak.
