The Government's unsuccessful appeal of the £69 million EU fine for irregularities in the beef industry had been a waste of taxpayers' money, the Green Party MEP, Ms Patricia McKenna, said yesterday.
Ms McKenna said it was clear from the outset that Ireland would have no option but to pay the fine. She was speaking after it had been announced that the Government had been ordered to pay the costs of the appeal. She called on the Government to make public the full cost of the appeal to the European Court of Justice.