Commission renews finance for Ireland fund

THE European Commission, meeting here to mark the anniversary of the Treaty of Rome, last night approved the renewal of EU finance to the International Fund for Ireland, the Irish Commissioner, Mr Padraig Flynn, confirmed last night.

The Commission earmarked £14 million a year for the next two years, down from £16 million last year, following a debate in which the Budget Commissioner, Mr Erki Liikanen, expressed concerns about the spending.

The Commission is committed to serious budgetary restraint and it had been suggested that the money could come from funds allocated to the special peace fund for Northern Ireland.

Following lobbying by the British and Irish ambassadors to the EU and the Taoiseach, Mr Bruton, who was concerned at the effect a withdrawal of support from the EU would have in the US, the threatened cutback was abandoned.