O'Keeffe accuses Nice 'No' lobbyists of deception

Fine Gael's Foreign Affairs spokesman Jim O'Keeffe is claiming that opponents of the Nice Treaty are misleading voters by suggesting it would lead to the creation of a European army.

He says the Rapid Reaction Force has its basis in the Amsterdam Treaty of 1998, which was approved by the Irish people.

Deputy O'Keeffe said this morning: "The Force will act as the European arm of the United Nations peacekeeping service.

"It is not a standing army for fighting, but a regional peacekeeping force."