The Taoiseach has said that it does "no good whatsoever" for a member of the Oireachtas to be so negative about the visit of the President of the US to Europe during the Irish presidency of the EU.
Mr Ahern was responding to what he described as a "rant" by Mr Joe Higgins (Soc, Dublin West) who asked on whose behalf the Taoiseach had invited President Bush to Ireland.
Mr Higgins suggested that the Taoiseach was "mesmerised" by President Bush and Mr Donald Rumsfeld.
"You gave them our airports, diplomatic cover and anything they wanted. Now you intend to do another jig for them, to help the President back into the White House again."
The Socialist Party TD asked what right the Taoiseach had to "demand that the Irish people do not protest in large numbers against this cynicism".
The Taoiseach said, however, that "people have the right to protest".
He reminded Mr Higgins that "individual presidents of the United States change from time to time.
"It is an office that is well respected in this country and in Europe and one that is part of the free and democratic world. The US is friendly towards Ireland and has given employment and a good life to millions of people."
President Bush is to visit Ireland on June 25th and 26th.
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