The Green Party has told President McAleese to "butt out" of the debate on the Nice Treaty.
As the campaign over the second Nice referendum shows signs of being as bitter as the first, both Labour Party leader Mr Ruairí Quinn and Green Party chairman Mr John Gormley today said the President should refrain from making comments of a political nature in relation to the Treaty.
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Mary McAleese: Nice Treaty is "pivotal for enlargement"
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Both have expressed suspicion that the Government may have been behind comments Mrs McAlesse made on RTÉ and on her visit to Greece.
But the Minister for Finance Mr McCreevy said today that "the President is an Irish citizen and I'm sure whatever she said she was quite within her rights to do so".
Mrs McAleese told RTÉ that Nice is "pivotal for enlargement", while in a speech to the Hellenic Centre for European Studies, she said concerns over neutrality had been addressed at the recent EU summit in Seville.
Mr Quinn, whose party will campaign for a Yes vote during the referendum campaign, questioned whether the President should be commenting on Nice at this time.
"In advance of a referendum on this issue, special caution is called for ... On issues of possible controversy such as this, the President is advised by the Government. On this occasion the advice was not adequate."
But Mr Gormley, whose party is vehemently opposed to the Treaty spoke in stronger terms.
"President McAleese should butt out of the Nice debate. It is not her place to make political statements. She knows only too well that this is not part of her constitutional role. President McAleese's statement in Greece was partisan and one hopes not part of a Government-orchestrated campaign," he said.
"Since the Government's second Nice campaign has started a disturbing trend has emerged ... Individuals who clearly should have no advocacy role have been calling for a Yes vote," he added.
Mr Gormley’s comments were a clear reference to the IDA chief executive’s Mr Sean Dorgan, who caused consternation yesterday when he said ratification of Nice was crucial for future growth.
Mr Quinn said the President should have been particularly careful with her comments in light of the controversy caused by the IDA chief executive’s comments.
Mr Dorgan said that rejection of Nice would be viewed internationally as a withdrawal from Europe. "Business, and especially inward investment, is totally tied to our future in Europe," he said.
Today, the Taoiseach has jumped to the defence of the Mr Dorgan. Mr Bertie Ahern said he was entitled to contribute to the debate and charged his detractors with attempting to "silence" Mr Dorgan.
"The attacks on Mr Dorgan by the campaigners for a no vote bode ill for any hopes that the forthcoming campaign will be conducted in a constructive manner by the no side," Mr Ahern said.
"While the no side feel entitled to call on speakers from all over Europe to support their case, contributors that support a yes vote - be they by Mr Dorgan or members of the European Commission, are constantly attacked. Rather than engage with the substance of Mr Dorgan’s contribution, the no side have attempted to silence him."
But Mr Gormley countered, rubbishing the defence of Mr Dorgan by the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, yesterday. "Can you imagine if Mr Dorgan had called for a No vote? [He] would have been removed from his post fairly swiftly. Because he is doing the Government's bidding, he is staunchly defended," Mr Gormley said.