It would appear despite the massive cuts, the Fine Gael/Labour Government have imposed in health, education and social welfare in order to repay the bondholders, they intend to find the money to send Irish troops to war-torn Mali.

GOVERNMENT attempts to implement cutbacks in line with European Commission demands will result in permanent damage to the fabric of society, ICTU leader David Begg told a conference of economists at the weekend.

ALMOST €10 million has been spent in just three years on protecting US troops passing through Shannon airport on their way to wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The US Federal Reserve has named Patrick Parkinson as its top banking regulator.

A day of commemoration is being today held to mark the bombing of Hiroshima.

THE financial crisis would not “scare” people into voting yes if a second Lisbon referendum was held, according to Socialist Party Euro-election candidate, Joe Higgins.

The Referendum Commission was accused of being “utterly biased” by suggesting in its information booklet that Ireland’s neutrality will not be affected by the Lisbon treaty.

The Irish Anti-War Movement is holding a major national “No to War, No to Lisbon” conference this weekend in Dublin.

THE Campaign Against the EU Constitution — formed in 2005 — is a broad coalition of progressive and left-wing political parties, organisations, trade unionists and individuals committed to democracy, peace, justice, Irish neutrality and equality.

An alliance of left-leaning groups has formally launched its campaign for a 'no' vote in the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.

ANTI-WAR protesters yesterday reacted angrily to suggestions that Knock Airport could be opened to US military aircraft.

Anti-war protesters reacted angrily today to suggestions that Knock Airport could be opened to US military aircraft.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny today refused to clearly state if he would block US military planes from using Shannon Airport if elected taoiseach.

IF Irish troops are sent to police the ceasefire in Lebanon they will be greeted by an unprecedentedly hostile local resistance, according to the Peace And Neutrality Alliance.

WAR has very rarely been an issue in an Irish general election. However, the decision of Bertie Ahern’s Government to destroy Irish neutrality by actively supporting the US war on Iraq by turning Shannon Airport into a de facto US airforce base means that it will be an issue in the next one.

The Peace & Neutrality Alliance (PANA) are to hold a demonstration at the Dáil on Kildare Street tomorrow against the proposed Defence (Amendment) Bill 2006.

THE docking of Britain’s largest warship in Dublin is a shameful violation of Irish neutrality, the Dáil heard yesterday.

The docking of Britain’s largest warship in Dublin is a shameful violation of Irish neutrality, the Dáil heard today.

Anti-war protesters are to stage a demonstration at the arrival of Britain’s largest warship in Dublin today.

The Peace and Neutrality Alliance is demanding that the Government instruct gardaí to board and inspect all US military flights landing at Shannon Airport.

THE decision by the world’s largest carrier of US troops to pull out of Shannon has been hailed as a victory for the Irish peace movement.

A referendum on the EU constitution would be an “insane” waste of money, it was claimed today.

A protest is being held in Dublin today to mark the first anniversary of the war in Iraq.

ON February 15 last the Peace & Neutrality Alliance and the Irish Anti-War Movement helped to organise one of the largest anti-war demonstrations in recent Irish history.

A FORMER army commandant-turned peace protester will today hand back his UN medals to highlight what he calls the cowardly actions of the Government in not upholding Ireland’s neutrality.

The three peace groups that organised the 100,000-strong anti-war march in Dublin earlier this year have announced plans for another demonstration in the capital this Saturday.

Another demonstration for Shannon is planned for later today, as anti-war protestors keep up the pressure on the Government over its policy on Iraq.

The Peace and Neutrality Alliance has said that the United Nations should be given temporary control over Iraq following the overthrow of President Saddam Hussein by the United States and Britain.

The Peace and Neutrality Alliance is threatening to take the Government to the International Court of Justice in the Hague.

SOLDIERS added razor wire to Shannon Airport’s perimeter fences last night as the army and gardaí braced for trouble at today’s anti-war protest.

MORE than 10,000 demonstrators opposed to war with Iraq are expected to hold a rally in Dublin next month.

THE spending power and weight of the Yes side was blamed by No campaigners as the deciding factor in the referendum.

THE Government is confident of a Yes vote in the Nice Referendum as the nation goes to the polls for the second time.

SAYING No to Nice would be regarded as perverse rejection by Ireland of a fair and reasonable deal, Foreign Affairs Minister Brian Cowen said yesterday.

MORE than 500 foreign military planes landed in airports in this country in the past year and almost 2,000 military aircraft flew in Irish airspace.

IN JUNE 2001, in a free, fair and democratic referendum, the Irish people voted to reject the Nice Treaty.

The Peace and Neutrality Alliance is launching its anti-Nice treaty campaign today.