Why Irish troops are in the wrong part of Africa

EU commissioner Charlie McCreevey has said the Irish public will be “defying their commonsense” if they vote against the EU treaty, which is a constitution in all but name.

What he, and the host of other EU leaders being rallied to the cause, really mean is that the Irish will be defying their local and European masters if they — as they should — reject this treaty in the referendum next year.

Credibility is becoming a critically import issue in post-Celtic Tiger Ireland. Mr McCreevy talks of “a strong and efficient Europe interacting with the rest of the world from a position of strength”.