Scrapping veto would hand over too much power, says McDowell

EUROPEAN Union justice ministers were yesterday deeply divided over scrapping the veto on justice issues, despite being told it was essential in the fight against terrorism.

Tánaiste Michael McDowell made a vitriolic attack on the proposal, demolishing the arguments put forward by European Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini at a justice ministers’ meeting in Finland.

Ireland was joined in its outright opposition by Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic and Malta.