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Ireland Lawmakers Want Unarmed Bush Visit
Mon Mar 22,12:14 PM ET
DUBLIN, Ireland - Left-wing politicians opposed to a planned visit by President Bush (news - web sites) called Monday for his Secret Service agents to be disarmed while in Ireland.
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 (news - web sites) summit scheduled for June 25-26 in Ireland.
Justice Minister Michael McDowell, speaking during a two-day meeting of European police chiefs in Dublin, said U.S. Secret Service agents would be allowed to open fire if deemed necessary "to save lives."
"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," McDowell said.
Opposition leaders critical of the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq (news - web sites) called for Ireland's national 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.
Ireland Lawmakers Want Unarmed Bush Visit
Mon Mar 22,12:14 PM ET
DUBLIN, Ireland - Left-wing politicians opposed to a planned visit by President Bush (news - web sites) called Monday for his Secret Service agents to be disarmed while in Ireland.
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 (news - web sites) summit scheduled for June 25-26 in Ireland.
Justice Minister Michael McDowell, speaking during a two-day meeting of European police chiefs in Dublin, said U.S. Secret Service agents would be allowed to open fire if deemed necessary "to save lives."
"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," McDowell said.
Opposition leaders critical of the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq (news - web sites) called for Ireland's national 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.
