The glasnost existing in Northern Ireland affairs was dented somewhat in the European Parliament when Independent MEP Marian Harkin took former DUP MEP Jim Allister to task over his comments on peace funds provided for the border areas by the European Union.

In a debate on a peace fund report by Sinn Fein MEP Bairbre de Brun which Marian Harkin described as excellent, Mr. Allister was extremely critical in denouncing what he described as a misuse of EU funds.

Marian Harkin on the other hand said that peace funding by the EU had made a significant contribution to the Peace Programme by fostering peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the border counties.  The Report also outlined how lessons learned and best practice achieved in the Peace Programme could be shared with those engaged in other international peace building work, she said.

Marian Harkin was pleased that her amendment that those involved in community and voluntary groups should continue to be financially supported when current peace funds come to an end, had been accepted.  “It is important that the governments on both sides of the border mainstream funding and ensure that vitally necessary work continues when EU funding is ended”, she said.

Otherwise, she stressed, trust would be broken with communities who needed to work to a strategic plan and not on a shorterm basis which prevented planning for the future.  Community groups had been active in many places on regeneration projects and EU money was well spent and the added value of volunteer time and work had made the programme a model of value for money.

Mr. Jim Allister’s negative comments had been disappointing, she said, especially as conflict had ended and peace funding had played a role in helping to achieve that very positive outcome.