MEP castigates 'sham' of neutrality

The Fianna MEP, Mr Niall Andrews, claimed yesterday that Irish neutrality was "an absolute sham".

Saying the Government had maintained the policy to "mollify certain elements in our own country", he said: "We pretend we're neutral, but we're not".

At a briefing in Brussels for Irish journalists, Mr Andrews said the world had changed since the second World War and he believed that Ireland should join a defence and security pact in the EU, which should act as a counterweight to the influence of the US in global affairs.

The Dublin MEP said the Government's decision to allow the US military to use Shannon Airport during the Iraq war was "probably right" but said there was no choice in the matter.