Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea has denied he cancelled a courtesy meeting with the chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, at the instigation of the Taoiseach's office.
Mr O'Dea had been due to meet Gen Richard Myers, who was on a brief visit to his Irish counterpart, Lieut-Gen Jim Sreenan, last Wednesday.
A spokeswoman for Mr O'Dea said the Minister had been feeling unwell on Wednesday morning and was delayed in setting off on a pre-arranged visit to inspect Army barracks in Longford and Mullingar.
As a result he had not been in a position to be in Dublin for the planned courtesy call.
He could not cancel either barracks inspections as there had been considerable preparation and meetings with Army personnel and their families arranged, she said.
She described as "absolute rubbish" a claim by Fine Gael defence spokesman Billy Timmins, that the visit was cancelled on the instructions of the Taoiseach's office.
Mr Timmins said the US authorities were "extremely angry at the abrupt cancellation of the meeting".
He said: "I believe it was an act of great discourtesy to the government and people of America."
Mr Timmins said that "at a time when terrorism is stalking the planet, the Irish Government could have learned much from a briefing from a senior army officer working in the front line of the war against terrorism".