By TARA O'LIATH.

The Fianna Fáil/PD government is this week seeking to force through the Dáil a motion approving membership of Partnership for Peace. On Tuesday 12 October, TDs Caoimhghín O Caoláin, Tony Gregory, Joe Higgins, John Gormley and Trevor Sargent held a press conference to oppose this railroading.

They took the unusual step of issuing a joint statement because they believe ``the conduct of the Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrats Government in the matter of NATO's PfP represents an attack on democracy''.

Caoimhghín O Caoláin said: ``No government has ever made such a bizarre u-turn''. And he called on Fianna Fáil to ``live up to the commitment that was given to voters in the last election''.

Fianna Fáil's manifesto pledge read: ``Fianna Fáil are committed to nuclear disarmament. We will oppose any moves to edge Ireland closer to membership of an alliance still committed to the deployment of nuclear weapons. We oppose Irish participation in NATO itself, in NATO-led organisations such as Partnership for Peace, or in the Western European Union beyond observer status.''

After the press conference, the TDs made their way to Leinster House to join a public protest against membership of Partnership for Peace.

SIPTU calls for PfP referendum

SIPTU has joined the many voices demanding a referendum on Ireland's entry into Partnership for Peace. The union voted in favour of the referendum at its biennial conference last week.

Against a backdrop of military actions in the Balkans, SIPTU believes that the actions of NATO in the former Yugoslavia undermine its role and that of the United Nations in promoting world peace.

The union believes that these recent developments are leading to world re-armament and polarisation of ethnic and regional tensions.

SIPTU delegates emphasised the importance of Ireland's neutrality and argued that the establishment of the PfP was a step down the road to re-armament. It would heighten the possibility of force being a first option, establishing the potential for economic wars between groups of nations leading to military wars.

The SIPTU members voted for a motion calling on the incoming National Executive Committee to mount a campaign to seek a referendum on Ireland's membership of Partnership for Peace and if successful, that SIPTU would campaign against membership in such a referendum.

Good Friday Agreement backed

In another motion, SIPTU delegates endorsed the Good Friday Agreement and recognised that political progress is the only means of finding a lasting solution. The motion passed iterated that the Agreement must be implemented in full without any preconditions or rewrites. Delegates also recognised that the ``trade union movement must play a full role in influencing our evolving society to ensure that the agenda reflects the needs, aspirations and demands of the working people''.

This would mean that trade unions participate fully in the civic forum; that trade unions working on social and sectarian issues receive full and proper funding from government; that trade unions are fairly represented on the commissions created to address human and equality rights and other such bodies; and that the EU and 26-County experience of social partnerships establishes the minimum standards for participation.