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IT WILL cost millions of pounds, lead to the consumption of much fine food and wine, preoccupy much of Ireland’s police force and focus worldwide attention on the relationship between the world’s two biggest power blocks: the EU and US. But even though it will last only two and a half hours, European Union officials admit it is a “waste of time”. The 2004 EU-US summit taking place tomorrow in the isolated 16th-century Dromoland Castle in west Ireland will bring together George Bush, the US President, with Bertie Ahern, the Prime Minister of Ireland, who holds the rotating presidency of...

http://www.rte.ie/news/2004/0624/primetime/primetime56.smil Bush seeks understanding from Irish people 24 June 2004 23:10 President George W Bush said tonight he hoped the Irish people understood that the events in Abu Ghraib were not typical of the American policy or people. But Mr Bush, spealing exclusively to RTÉ News, rejected the idea that the world was less safe because of US policy in Iraq. Mr Bush was interviewed in Washington for Prime Time prior to his Irish visit by Carole Coleman, RTÉ's Washington Correspondent The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen, told the Dáil earlier that the war against terror and the situation...

DUBLIN, Ireland (Reuters) -- U.S. President George W. Bush's trip to Ireland for a European Union / United States summit is expected to draw thousands of protesters who oppose the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq in a country where U.S. presidents are traditionally feted. Ireland is deploying more than 6,000 police and troops to protect Bush and EU leaders at the summit in one of the biggest security operations Ireland has staged.

Dublin, Ireland – When President Bush visits Ireland June 25-26, he will be confronted by a gaggle of leftist loonies coalescing under the banner, "When Bush comes to shove." They're against the war in Iraq, you see. They held no demonstrations to protest the torture and murder by Saddam Hussein over three decades; neither have they managed to get upset about human rights violations in China, the atrocities committed by various African dictators, or a host of other "evildoers," as Mr. Bush likes to call them. In fact, memory fails to recall any protests against military actions by the Irish...

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...

<p>DUBLIN, Ireland (AP) -- Left-wing politicians opposed to a planned visit by President Bush called Monday for his Secret Service agents to be disarmed while in Ireland.</p> <p>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 Ireland.</p>

WASHINGTON - At a time of strained U.S.-Europe ties, President Bush has the backing of the European Union's new leader, Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, who pledged cooperation Wednesday in fighting terrorism. Bush announced on St. Patrick's Day that he will go to Ireland this June for an EU summit. "Mr. President, Europe and the United States share a common determination to overcome the evils of terrorism," Ahern said as he stood by Bush's side during a White House ceremony. Bush donned a green tie as he maintained the longstanding White House tradition of hosting the Irish leader on St....

US President George W Bush used a St Patrick's Day ceremony in Washington to announce that he'll visit Ireland in June for a European Union summit. In an annual White House ceremony on Wednesday, Bush and First Lady Laura were presented with a bowl of shamrocks by Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern. Bush and Ahern expressed unity in the fight against terrorism as they remembered the victims of last week's bombings in Madrid. Abiding friendshipAhern said the ceremony was a reminder of "the close and abiding friendship that has existed" between the two nations for centuries. He said "Europe and...