Politicians blamed for negative EU image

THE Government has contributed to people’s negative perceptions of the EU by frequently blaming it for problems, an Oireachtas committee has been told.

The Irish Examiner’s Europe correspondent, Ann Cahill, told the committee there was a perception that the EU was “a monster breathing fire at Ireland. When you consider the evidence, it is easy to see why they might think this,” she added.

Ms Cahill cited a number of cases where the Government blamed the EU for problems of its own making, such as the controversial European directive which saw schools charged for water.