Significant numbers of TDs yesterday boycotted, ignored or were unable to attend the address to the Dáil by Australian prime minister John Howard, on the final day of his visit.
Six Independent TDs, led by Dublin Central's Tony Gregory, boycotted Mr Howard in protest at his support for the US-led invasion of Iraq, his anti-trade union attitudes and his hard-line views on immigration.
Just nine out of 21 Labour TDs were present for the speech - the third address by an Australian prime minister to the Dáil in little more than 20 years - while 25 out of 32 Fine Gael TDs were missing.
Four of the six Green Party TDs stayed in the chamber for the speech, while the party chairman, Dublin South East TD John Gormley, left to support an anti-war rally outside the Dáil. Éamon Ryan TD was at another engagement.
In a letter to Mr Howard, Mr Gormley complained about Australia's failure under his leadership to ratify the Kyoto climate change protocol and his support for president George Bush.
Earlier, Green Party leader Trevor Sargent was rebuffed by Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, after he had urged Mr Ahern to raise the concerns of Australian Greens with the Australian leader. "I will not act as a messenger boy for the Green Party of Australia," replied Mr Ahern, who sharply rejected Mr Sargent's allegations that the US use of Shannon airport played a key a role in the initiation of the Iraqi conflict.
The Dáil inquiry into Judge Brian Curtin continued to meet during the speech, but only because it had a large number of counsel appearing before it.
Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins said Mr Howard was not welcome because he "has been the instigator of vicious anti-trade union legislation" and "the facilitator" for the "disastrous" Iraqi invasion. Furthermore, he was the "peddler of anti-immigrant lies to appeal to a bigoted minority for electoral gain and the expropriator of the East Timorese people's resources".
Besides Mr Gregory and Mr Higgins, the other Independent boycotters were Finian McGrath, Dublin North Central; Jerry Cowley, Mayo; Séamus Healy, Tipperary South and Catherine Murphy, Kildare North. However, four Independents, Marian Harkin, Sligo/Leitrim; James Breen, Clare; Paudge Connolly, Cavan/Monaghan and Paddy McHugh, Galway East, applauded Mr Howard's presence.
