Former Taoiseach Mr Albert Reynolds will share a platform with the Unification Church founder, the Rev Sun Myung Moon, when he speaks at next week's Washington conference on "A World Vision for the 21st Century".
Following reports of apparent concern over Mr Reynolds's Dail attendance recently, senior Government sources yesterday said they had "no say" in where Mr Reynolds might wish to go. They also said they were not anxious about his Dail attendances.
Asked if the Government had any reservations about one of their deputies attending a conference organised by what are commonly known as the "Moonies", he replied: "We do not have an official policy on the Moonies".
In 1954 Mr Moon established the Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity (the official name of the church) in Pusan, South Korea. The church claims to have about 50,000 followers, often called "Moonies", in the US, but academics say the figure is nearer 5,000. In 1982 Mr Moon was convicted of income tax fraud and was jailed for 13 months. Charges have also been made of illegal banking and immigration schemes.