There were further signs of a split in Fianna Fáil over the issue of the war on Iraq when MEP, Mr Niall Andrews, voted in favour of a motion condemning the coalition operation at the European Parliament today.
His four Fianna Fáil colleagues, however, voted against and instead backed a motion proposed by the centre-right European People's Party (PPE), blaming the Iraqi regime for the war. Mr Andrews also voted in favour of the motion.
In the Seanad yesterday, three Fianna Fáil senators; leader of the House, Mrs O'Rourke, Mr Labhrás Ó Murchú and Mr Don Lydon described the war in Iraq as illegal, unjust and immoral.
Having faced down a potential backbench revolt on the issue, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, now finds two of the most respected members of his party opposed to his position.
Mrs O'Rourke, the former deputy leader of the party said the war an effort at aggrandizement by the US. And Mr Andrews has a long record of involvement in Iraq and has campaigned against the imposition of economic sanctions on the country.
In a recent debate in the European Parliament Mr Andrews described US president George W Bush as "a threat to the whole world" and said he was convinced that oil was motivating US policy on Iraq.
Today he backed a joint resolution by the Socialists, Greens and Liberals that pointed to widespread public opposition to the war and the "absence of UN legitimacy", and criticised the failure to give peace efforts more time. The motion was defeated by 255-218.
The motion declared: "the American administration is putting into practice a new doctrine on pre-emptive strikes as part of the recent US National Security Strategy".
Mr Andrews also backed a motion - defeated by 286 votes to 207 - proposed by the PPE that blamed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein for the conflict.
His colleagues: Mr Jim Fitzsimons, Mr Liam Hyland and Mr Sean O Neachtain and Mr Gerry Collins also backed the motion.
Fine Gael also showed signs of division on the issue when Mrs Mary Banotti and Mr John Cushnahan voted in favour of the motion condemning US action in Iraq, while her colleagues Ms Avril Doyle and Mr John McCartin, voted against.