MEPs from many member states sharply criticised unionists and the British government a over the recent violence in the North, with Mr Jim Nicholson (UUP) the sole speaker in defence of the right of Orangemen to march down the Garvaghy Road in Portadown.
Yesterday's two hour European Parliament debate, attended by the Tanaiste, Mr Spring, was supposed to confine itself to Ireland's EU Presidency programme. But 7 speakers from most of the parliamentary groups expressed sympathy with the Irish presidency over the recent violence, with some making highly emotional condemnations of the authorities and unionist politicians.
Introducing Mr Spring, the President of the European Parliament, Dr Klaus Hansch, said that the peace process in the North had suffered severe setbacks in recent weeks.
"We have already placed on record our abhorrence at the recent resumption of terrorist activity by the IRA", he said. "A few days ago, rioting and violence returned to the streets of Northern Ireland. Sectarian confrontation has Jeopardised the onward march of peace."
He urged the people of the North to heed the message of Nelson Mandela. "After years of persecution and violence and discrimination, he preaches peace, and friendship and forgiveness. He does not, he cannot, forget the past, but he is building for the future.
"It is the most powerful message of reconciliation and hope. It is a message that we in Europe must not ignore. It is a message the whole community in Northern Ireland must hear not to forget the past, but to build the future in a spirit of peace, friendship and forgiveness.
Mrs Johanna Maij Weggen (EPP, Netherlands) said that in Northern Ireland the "misuse of the colour orange has been a matter of distress for us in Holland, where orange is a colour of tolerance and our king is a king of both Protestants and Catholics". She expressed sympathy with the Irish presidency because of the recent violence in the North.
Ms Nuala Ahern (Green, Leinster) said that the important tasks' of the Irish presidency were being overshadowed by the crisis in the Northern peace process. We want to deal with unemployment and social crisis, but we cannot do so while anarchy is permitted to rule.
"Last week in Northern Ireland the authorities capitulated in the face of lawlessness. It is unacceptable in any state of the Union that an organisation should impose the sectarian intimidation of citizens that we have witnessed in Northern Ireland. I don't want to see any more people buried in my country."
Ms Patricia McKenna (Green, Dublin) called on the European Parliament to send a delegation of observers to Derry and Belfast for the Apprentice Boys' march and other Orange marches next month. "The marching season is not over yet and if the European Parliament is interested in showing solidarity with the minority community in Northern Ireland then it should send a delegation to Derry for the Apprentice Boys' march on August 10th."
Ms Winnie Ewing, a Scottish National Party MEP, said she was almost in tears when she read the section of the Irish presidency programme on creating a peaceful Europe. "I know it was written before the recent violence. There isn't much sign of peace in that part of the island of Ireland."
She said it Was time to look at alternative solutions such as involving the United Nations in Northern Ireland. "And let's stop this talk about preconditions for talks such as the British government are imposing. In Kenya, South Africa and the Middle East, no such preconditions were made."
The president of the Green group, Ms Claudia Roth (Germany), said that for her to speak only about the normal EU agenda would involve participation in a conspiracy of silence.
"Not recognising the perpetrators of violence would be pretending that violations of civil rights did not exist. How can I just talk about the European Union when I have in my mind the picture of a young Catholic man buried a few days ago and when I see the Irish flag being burned? What is the point in talking of citizens rights when people in Northern Ireland haven't got rights".'
Mr Jim Nicholson (UUP) suggested that many of those speaking did not know the facts. "I wish a lot of people, before they opened their mouths, would be aware of the facts before making statements". He blamed the RUC Chief Constable, Sir Hugh Annesley, for much of the recent unrest.
Mr Nicholson accused the Irish Government of indulging in "megaphone diplomacy", which he said was the equivalent of "pouring petrol on the flames".
Mr Pat Cox (Ind, Munster) said that political leaders in both governments, and particularly in the parties in Northern Ireland, bore a heavy responsibility. "Those who will not learn the lessons of history condemn themselves and society to repeat that history. Those who are more at home with the cosy familiarity of their own tribe, on both sides, must choose a more open and pluralist alternative.
"If not, the blood that flows will be on their hands as surely as on the hands of those who pull the triggers or plant the bombs."
Mr Joe McCarthy (FG Connacht/Ulster) said he had, never seen Irish people as angry as they were last weekend. "The anger was at what was seen as the bullying of the minority population by the majority with the support of the UK armed forces and the police.
He said unionist feelings of being under siege were not justified. "The vast majority of people in the Irish state neither want nor expect anything more than that, the people of Northern Ireland reach an accommodation with each other. Yes, there is hope that one day Ireland will be united with the consent, and only with the consent, of both communities.
"Meanwhile, we want a political settlement, we want peaceful neighbours in Northern Ireland, we want acceptable standards of justice and democracy in Northern Ireland for as long as it is part of the United Kingdom.
Mrs Bernie Malone (Labour Dublin) said that the parliament supported Mr Spring's efforts "to restore credibility to the peace process and indeed to the political process".
She asked for an assurance that the EU Council of Ministers would "play its full part, in the same way as the Commission and Parliament have, in mobilising the political resources of the EU in bringing about a peaceful resolution to this conflict".