Coveney kicks out at US foreign policy

FINE GAEL’S European Parliament candidate for the South, Deputy Simon Coveney, kicked off his campaign yesterday with a pledge to challenge US foreign policy in Iraq.

Mr Coveney said it would be irresponsible and damaging to Ireland's EU presidency if we were to withdraw the invitation to US President George Bush to come here this summer.

"I look forward to Ireland being the venue of what I hope will be a peaceful summit, but one that will challenge US foreign policy and EU attitudes towards a wider world many of us have real difficulty with that," Mr Coveney added.