February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
The latest debate centers over security personnel protecting the U.S. president on his forthcoming visit to Ireland will be allowed to open fire if they feel there is a risk to life.
Opposition lawmakers denounced the government’s confirmation that Bush’s bodyguards would be allowed to open fire if deemed necessary to protect the president during a U.S.-European Union summit scheduled for June 25-26 in Dublin.
But Irish Justice Minister Michael McDowell said no special immunity provisions would be granted to the armed agents guarding the president. He also claimed he did not believe President Bush?s June visit had increased the likelihood of a terrorist attack on Ireland.
McDowell, speaking at a meeting of European police chiefs in Dublin, said: “Shooting at anybody in Ireland is only done to save lives. That’s a fundamental principle of our constitution and our common law, and it’s not going to be abrogated in any way.”
But opposition leaders critical of the U.S. and British-led invasion of Iraq called for Ireland’s police force, the Garda Siochana, to have sole responsibility for Bush’s security.
“This is a sovereign nation, yet Minister McDowell appears to be prepared to hand over responsibility for law enforcement and for the use of firearms to the security personnel of another country,” complained Joe Costello, justice spokesman for the opposition Labour Party.
The president?s visit to Ireland later this year will reportedly last just 12 hours. He will arrive late on June 25 and spend the night at a location outside Dublin, possibly Dromoland Castle in County Clare or Ashford Castle in County Mayo.
He will then attend a two-hour EU-U.S. summit on June 26 and a 90-minute working lunch before flying on to Turkey at around midday or shortly afterward.
This will be Bush’s first visit to the Republic as president. There are no plans at this time for a political initiative on Northern Ireland, and according to a report in the Irish Times, ?Mr. Bush will not be dropping in to a pub for a drink,? as his predecessor President Clinton did when he first visited Ireland in November 1995.
The Irish Anti-War Movement, the NGO Peace Alliance and the Peace and Neutrality Alliance plan anti-Bush protests in Dublin and at the summit venue.