Call for intervention over beef ban

A THREATENED Russian ban on Irish and European beef due to begin on January 1 is inevitable unless some serious diplomatic efforts take place, it was claimed yesterday.

Brian Crowley, president of the Union for Europe of the Nations group in the European Parliament, called on Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to raise the issue at today’s meeting of EU leaders in Brussels.

Mr Crowley also urged European Commission president Jose Barroso to personally intervene. Time was running out and action must now be taken.