Govt faces Dáil fire over EU 'battle groups' initiative

The Government has come under attack in the Dáil over a lack of transparency in relation to Ireland's involvement in so-called EU "battle groups".

Green Party TD John Gormley told the House this morning that Irish soldiers involved in the initiative would be trained in Britain and the lack of accountability made a mockery of Irish neutrality.

Labour TD Ruairi Quinn, meanwhile, said the Government appeared to have learned nothing from the first Nice Treaty referendum, when many voters expressed concerns about Irish involvement in EU military actions.

The Tánaiste, Michael McDowell, however, insisted that the battle groups posed no threat to Irish neutrality and said the Government would do what it could to take opposition concerns on board.