Irish MEPs have clashed over an EU grant to the International Fund for Ireland. On Tuesday, the European Parliament decided to fast-track the procedure for the approval of a €45 million (£35.44 million) package of support for the fund.
However, Green Party MEP Ms Patricia McKenna yesterday said her party would propose amendments to the Commission's proposal tomorrow, which would call on the fund not to support "operations related to the manufacture of armaments or their components in Northern Ireland".
Ms McKenna said she was supporting the amendments because of the announcement by Raytheon, the third-biggest arms company in the world, that it would set up a software project in Derry.
The Dublin MEP told the Parliament it was "a contradiction in terms to talk about a peace process and to provide jobs in the arms industry for people who have been decimated by violence".
Fianna Fail MEP Mr Pat the Cope Gallagher distanced himself from Ms McKenna's move, telling the Parliament the Irish people "fully appreciate the important, positive and practical role that the European Parliament and the European institutions have played in the peace process".
Meanwhile, Fianna Fail has expressed concern about a report submitted to the parliament which singles Ireland out as benefiting more than any other EU state from a combination of state aid to industry and EU regional and social funds.
Mr Gallagher said the report from Belgian MEP Mr Pierre Jonckheer was "anti-Irish".
