FG proposes EU-US co-operation agency

A new organisation is being proposed by Fine Gael, to encourage better relations between the EU and the US.

The Transatlantic Foundation would be based in Shannon, and cost around €1m to set up.

Fine Gael says the organisation, which would have an Irish Secretary General and an American Chairman, would encourage stronger co-operation between the two powers, which have suffered strained relations recently.

It would aim to foster better relations in the areas of business; trade unions; religious, cultural and civic co-operation; and be a centre for research into these areas.

Fine Gael's Foreign Affairs spokesman, Gay Mitchell, says it's time Ireland took a lead in international affairs.