The Minister for Foreign Affairs was expected to raise what he has described as the 'ridiculous position' of FIFA on passports at a meeting of the British-Irish Council today.
The international football body is insisting that players who opt for the Northern Ireland team must have British passports.
Dermot Ahern said he would be raising the issue with the Northern Secretary, Peter Hain, and making the point that the plan offends against the spirit and the letter of the Good Friday Agreement.
The Minister for the Environment, Dick Roche, was also due attend today's meeting and was likely to raise the issue of the future of Sellafield as well as the problems posed by global warning.
