FF TD describes SF as 'most strongly anti-EU party for almost 40 years'

CRITICISM OF SINN FÉIN:SINN FÉIN has been constantly wrong about Europe and is anti-EU, it has been claimed.

A Fianna Fáil member of the National Forum on Europe, deputy Thomas Byrne, said Sinn Féin's attitude to previous referendums marked it out as the "most consistently and strongly anti-EU party for almost 40 years".

He outlined past comments made by Sinn Féin dating back to 1972 and the Treaty of Accession when the party claimed "the objective of this treaty is a United States of Europe with a European army".

"Irish people will be compelled to fight wars the European powers decide to wage. Neutrality will go and compulsory military service for our youth will be introduced," Sinn Féin said at the time.

In 1987, Sinn Féin said the Single European Act would "surrender power completely to the Nato-dominated EEC", and that the Maastricht Treaty in 1992 would represent "a death knell for Irish neutrality".

He also pointed to statements made in 1998 by Sinn Féin that the Amsterdam Treaty "represents the most significant step towards a military common defence in Europe".

He said Gerry Adams said in 2001 that the Nice Treaty would "bring us closer into a European army".

Mr Byrne said Sinn Féin's record on Europe amounted to a rejection of the EU. "There are, indeed, people who are pro-EU but concerned about the treaty - but they don't include Sinn Féin," he said.

Mr Byrne said that Sinn Féin's opposition to a European army and its desire for neutrality contrasted with its past history of militarism.

"I want to recognise their part in the peace process, but it is certainly a point that the ordinary voter will bear in mind when they are going to vote," he said.

Sinn Féin Navan councillor Peadar Tobin accused Mr Byrne of running scared of a debate about Europe.

"Ireland's place is in Europe, that fact is uncontested.

"If Deputy Byrne wants to be of some service to his constituents, I suggest he start explaining to them why the loss of a permanent commissioner, the 50 per cent reduction of our voting strength at the council, or the loss of more than 60 vetoes, is in the interests of Ireland."