[Article] Terrorism 'nightmare' scuppers EU summit plan

Victor

http://home.eircom.net/content/unison/national/2006856?view=EircomnetCongratulations Bertie, maybe it will teach you to fulfill you security responsibilities in future. Where are those extra Gardaí? Where is the new equipemnt for the defence forces?

Charlie must be delighted, well unless the conferences planned for his consitutency are cancelled.

Terrorism 'nightmare' scuppers EU summit plan
From:The Irish Independent
Saturday, 22nd November, 2003
Alison O'Connor Political Correspondent

PLANS to host summit meetings here of heads of state during our EU presidency have been abandoned because of the threat of international terrorism.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern conceded last night there will be no European Council meetings held here next year because of the security "nightmare".

"It's too costly, too disruptive and quite dangerous," he said.

Instead, Mr Ahern said he had decided to hold what he described as "super meetings" in Brussels. "We will hold other meetings here but we are not going for the super councils."

The Taoiseach said that, although he trusted our security and gardai, he thought the task would be too great for any country. "We are talking about 28 countries and very significant people," he said. "It would be a nightmare and I don't think we can do that."

The European Council meets at least twice a year and brings together the heads of state or government of all EU member nations and the president of the European Commission.

The decision comes in the wake of the suicide attacks in Istanbul, which killed 27 people and left western governments at a loss over how to deal with the terrorists or thwart future attacks.

Osama bin Laden's al-Qa'ida network yesterday claimed responsibility for the atrocities as British security sources admitted they had no prior intelligence that the attacks were planned.

British foreign secretary Jack Straw, after touring the scene of the devastation in Istanbul, said: "Everybody is now a target. With these ruthless attacks which we now face, everywhere is a target."

Despite abandoning the European Council meetings, Mr Ahern said there is a possibility Ireland may have to host US President George Bush next June as part of an EU/US summit.

A government spokeswoman acknowledged that if a decision is taken to hold the summit in Ireland there would be vast security considerations.

However, she stressed that no decision had yet been made on that meeting, given the sensitivities over the security of President Bush, whose visit to Britain this week is estimated to have cost more than €20m for the extra security alone.

"It will be discussed in the coming weeks and months. If it comes here, there will obviously be serious security considerations, but at this point it is a possibility rather than a probability. However, we would be confident that the gardai would be able to handle it," she said.

The decision on holding future major EU meetings in Brussels has been made in agreement with all member states because of a number of concerns, including security, and the fact that the numbers involved are going to be vastly increased after the accession states join in May, the spokeswoman said.

The Taoiseach insisted yesterday that high-profile figures would still visit Ireland during our EU presidency.

"We will have other high-level meetings here but we're not going for the super councils," he said. "It would be a logistical nightmare to deal with visits from significant people from 28 countries."

Among the events taking place in Dublin at the beginning of the EU Presidency in January are a meeting between the Government and the European Commission and the Justice and Home Affairs ministers.

Finance ministers are to meet in Punchestown in Co Kildare in April, and foreign affairs Ministers will gather in Tullamore, Co Offaly, in the same month.

In May, Dublin will host a major celebration for the accession states joining the EU.

mneylon

In a word : Mental!

sceptre

Mr Ahern said there is a possibility Ireland may have to host US President George Bush next June as part of an EU/US summit.

I'll get me tent and paintbrushes.

Imposter

Finance ministers are to meet in Punchestown in Co Kildare in April, and foreign affairs Ministers will gather in Tullamore, Co Offaly, in the same month.

redflaremist

The dogs in the street knew for months that the EU summit was never going to happen here simply because of the cost of staging it...

In the meantime 5 people who were arrested at the EU summit in June are nearly dead on hunger strike, having been imprisoned without trial. We'll be outside the Dáil and then the Greek Embassy tomorrow.

Here's a link for more info if anyone's interested: http://www.indymedia.ie/newswire.php?story_id=62353

Victor

Imagine, for less than the €50m price of the Bertie jet (included in the Budget estimates), they could have provided the security. There is another €50m or so spread over a number of departments for running the presidency.