A family pulled from a sport utility vehicle that had been buried in a snowdrift for nearly two days said they feared they would not make it out alive.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today said he would not “insult” the United States by cancelling his visit to meet President George Bush on Thursday.

Proceedings at the Dail were disrupted today when Green Party members held up placards spelling the words No to War and walked out of the chamber.