FF MEP defends decision to hold Bush summit in Ireland

Fianna Fáil MEP Gerry Collins has defended the Government’s decision to hold an EU-US summit in Ireland this June.

Yesterday, several anti-war campaigners, including MEPs Patricia McKenna and Pronsias de Rossa, called on the Government to switch the summit to Brussels.

They said it would be used by US President George W Bush as part of a stunt to secure Irish-American votes in this November’s election and the Irish Government should play no role in supporting such a stunt.

However, Mr Collins said today that since the Irish Government held the presidency of the EU it was therefore right that the summit be held in Ireland.