The US Government will tomorrow be offered the use of Irish airports and airspace by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen.
Responding to criticism of the announcement on the matter, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said yesterday that in the fight against international terrorism, Irish people had to decide where they were "for or against".
However, Mr Ahern said he did not expect the offer would actually be taken up by the Americans.
He did not expect the matter would take up too much time when Mr Cowen meets the US Secretary of State, Mr Colin Powell, tomorrow in Washington.
"But in so far as this issue is concerned, if the Americans forces are in need of the fly over or landing capacity, that is available in this country," said Mr Ahern.
The Taoiseach added that there were a number of other areas to be discussed in the meeting such as our chairing of the UN Security Council from next week.
Mr Ahern defended not discussing this issue when the Dβil was reconvened last week.
"As you know there was no doubt in the Dβil about it when we were paying our respects as a Parliament to the people of the US for the tragedies that had happened seven days previously."
But the Labour Party foreign affairs spokesman, Mr Michael D. Higgins, yesterday described it as an "appalling" situation.
Fine Gael's spokesman on justice and defence, Mr Alan Shatter, backed the Government's offer.
Mr Shatter said it was regrettable that some of those in public life, confronted by the evil which we are now challenged "continue to engage in weasel words and hand-wringing metaphors".
"I believe that neutrality when confronted by evil is not an option. It is a position of moral bankruptcy and an act of self-indulgent intellectual escapism," said Mr Shatter.
He said the Irish offer was exactly the same situation which existed 10 years ago at the time of the Gulf War.
"What we are doing is precisely in line with the Security Council resolution, in line with the practice of what was done in Desert Storm 10 years ago.
"I do hope that these issues will not arise but if they do we have our parts to play as members of the Security Council, and I think members of the free democratic world, of showing solidarity to the American people for the terrible atrocities that have happened," he said.
Mr Higgins said he believed there were some circumstances in which the airports could be used including when there was as a multi-lateral response, and there was United Nations sanction, he said.
"But what I consider unacceptable is the Taoiseach outside of the Dβil or Seanad simply saying do whatever you like with our airports. It is clear that he does not quite know what use these facilities are going to be put.
"What I want from the Taoiseach, in the days before we take over the Presidency of the Security Council, was something that gave us an indication of how we would try and have an alternative to war and the loss of civilian life," he said on RT╔ radio.
A Government source said last night that the offer meant that armed military aircraft would be allowed to land. However, such a request was highly improbable given the number of military bases available in the UK and the undesirability of landing these aircraft at a civilian airport.
Shannon Airport has been used as a transit point for unarmed military personnel. No special permission is needed for these flight to land there. A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said any other requests would be dealt with on a case by case basis under the UN resolution.