Partnership for Peace was accepted by an overwhelming 88 majority in the Dail last night when Fianna Fail and Fine Gael voted together for the first time in years, with the Progressive Democrats.

Two of the four Independent deputies who give conditional support to the Government, Ms Mildred Fox (Wicklow) and Mr Harry Blaney (Donegal North East) voted with the Labour and Green parties and the other independents who have called for a referendum on the issue.

Mr Jackie Healy Rae (Ind, Kerry South) was not in the chamber for the series of three votes, the first two on Labour and independent referendum amendments and the final on the substantive issue which was accepted by 112 to 24 votes.

Mr Tom Gildea (Ind, Donegal South West) who shows conditional support for the Fianna Fail-Progressive Democrats Coalition voted with the Government on the issue.

Mr Joe Higgins (Soc, Dublin West), Mr Tony Gregory (Ind, Dublin Central) and Mr Caoimhghin O Caolain (SF, Cavan-Monaghan) voted with Labour and the Greens.

When the votes were concluded the House was suspended for 15 minutes after Mr John Gormley (Green, Dublin South East) unfurled a NATO flag and said the Government had betrayed the public and should now pledge its allegiance to the flag. The House adjourned when he refused to leave the chamber when ordered to do so.

Concluding the debate the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, again insisted PfP had no implications for neutrality and he had made a "frank admission" that the Government had changed its mind. "I can understand the anxiety which many people have expressed in regard to the question of implications for our neutrality. I have sought at every opportunity to allay these fears and to demonstrate that they are groundless."