Natothe Taoiseach ruled out Ireland joining NATO during the debate on a motion to become a member of Partnership for Peace (PfP).

"We have no intention of accepting membership of any nuclear-based alliance such as NATO. We want to see the world rid of nuclear weapons," said Mr Ahern. "A mutual defence pact is not even on the agenda of the European Union's common foreign and security policy."

He said that every other European neutral country, including Switzerland, participated in PfP. Mr Caoimhghin O Caolain (SF, Cavan-Monaghan) said that no government in recent history had made such a brazen U-turn as that of the Taoiseach on the issue.

"We cannot be real peacekeepers if we participate in the continuing expansion of NATO or in the creation of a European superstate with a military arm. "Sinn Fein believes that there is no role for the European Union in military and defence matters. International peacekeeping should be under the auspices of the United Nations."

Mr O Caolain, Mr Joe Higgins (Socialist Party, Dublin West), Mr Tony Gregory (Independent, Dublin Central) and the Green Party deputies, Mr Trevor Sargent (Dublin North) and Mr John Gormley (Dublin South East), moved an amendment to the motion calling for a referendum.

Confirming his opposition to joining PfP, Mr John Browne (FF, Wexford) said it would have serious consequences for Irish neutrality.

"I feel that having promised a referendum, we should have gone down that road," he said.

Mr Des O'Malley (PD, Limerick East) said that those who had long advocated participation in PfP had begun to tire of hearing the mantra that Ireland's neutrality would be prejudiced.