PHILISOPHICAL DIFFERENCES: Anti-racism protesters disrupted a speech by the controversial Austrian politician, Mr Jörg Haider, in Dublin last night, chanting slogans of "shame" and "Nazis out" throughout his address.
About 50 demonstrators gathered outside the Graduate Memorial Building at Trinity College where Mr Haider, former leader of Austria's Freedom Party, spoke at a debate, hosted by the university's Philosophical Society, on Europe and Nationalism.
Mr Haider, who unsuccessfully tried to stop Austria joining the EU in 1995, spoke about the need for Europe to find a "unity of spirit" which would "let Europe's diversity flow".
In a reference to EU enlargement, which he opposes, Mr Haider said "let us take the necessary time to harvest the fruit that is ripe". He added Europe should "step out of the footsteps" of the US, and move away from creating a centralised superstate.
Protesters drawn mainly from the Anti-Nazi League, the Socialist Party and Sinn Féin held banners to the windows of the building and sounded sirens throughout the event.
One man confronted Mr Haider as he entered the hall, pointing in his face and shouting abuse before being removed.
