Greens slam Irish backing of arms body

IRELAND’S support for the establishment of a new EU arms agency came under fire last night from Green MEP Patricia McKenna.

Speaking as Green parliamentarians from Scotland, England and Wales gathered in Belfast for a summit with the Irish Green Party today, Ms McKenna criticised the Taoiseach for backing the EU arms agency.

The Dublin MEP said it was strange that the leader of a so-called neutral country would facilitate the setting up of the agency, designed to harmonise procurement and support research in the arms industry.

“I’m actually quite shocked that Bertie Ahern would give the go-ahead for this,” she said.

“The conclusions of the EU Presidency make it quite clear that it’s about boosting the EU arms industry so it can become more competitive on an international scale,” she continued, adding that Mr Ahern had the opportunity to block the new agency.

Today’s Green summit will address the issue of a common approach to next year’s European elections.

The Sellafield nuclear reprocessing plant in Cumbria is expected to be high on the agenda, as the Greens seek to formulate a joint agenda on a number of environmental issues.

The Green Isle Network, which represents Greens in Ireland and England, is a spin-off from the European Federation of Green parties.

Currently the Green Isle Network has two MEPs, representing Ireland and England respectively. Today’s summit will be attended by Green Party leader Trevor Sargent, five TDs and both MEPs.

Mr Sargent said today’s meeting marked an important step in co-operation between the green parties.

“The Green vote is increasing and there’s a strong prospect that Ireland and Britain will return several more members to the European Parliament next June,” he said.