Mr Ruairi Quinn, the Labour leader, has welcomed the Indonesian government's decision to invite a UN peacekeeping force into East Timor to restore order, and called for its implementation "at the earliest possible opportunity".
Mr Tom Hyland, co-ordinator of the East Timor Ireland Solidarity Campaign, has continued his call to the Government "to invoke the convention on genocide against the Indonesian government", despite President Habibie's announcement to allow UN peacekeepers into East Timor.
Mr Hyland said he was cautious about the news, and he was "receiving information on the ground that the Indonesian military have intensified attacks, particularly in Dare, just outside the capital, Dili."
Trocaire issued a statement saying: "The perpetrators of the genocide in East Timor must not be allowed off the hook as part of the deal to send UN peacekeepers to East Timor," and called on the Government to proceed with invoking the genocide convention in the United Nations.
The relief agency, GOAL, has called on the Government to initiate a campaign leading to the establishment of an international standing army.
GOAL's director, Mr John O'Shea, said: "This genocide, as well as the genocides which took place in recent years in Rwanda and Kosovo, must convince the international community that only the creation of an international standing army will deter the perpetrators of genocide."
He added: "It's time for some country to demand an end to the hypocrisy being practised by the international community in the matter of human rights for innocent people."