High security in place for EU farm ministers meeting

GARDAÍ have mounted a big security operation in Killarney for an informal meeting of the European Union agricultural council today and tomorrow.

Farm ministers from each of the 25 member states in the enlarged EU as well as ministers from Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey will take part in the meeting which Agriculture and Food Minister Joe Walsh will host as the current council president.

Security will also be tight when the ministers visit Garnish Island in West Cork today as part of what will be the first EU Council meeting in which the ten new states will participate as full members. Armed detectives will back up uniformed gardaí in protecting the ministers during their stay. Much of the security operation will centre on the Hotel Europe, where the council will meet.