It is audacious of the American Government to send these ships here. When it comes to environmental issues President Bush always gives the two fingers to the rest of the world. This has happened in the case of the Kyoto protocol and other European rules to which Ireland must conform. The Kyoto protocol is extremely important. This is another example of the Americans being irresponsible. The European Union should state firmly that it will not tolerate this. To what degree do protocols and provisions such as these apply to American ships? They should not apply at all because the USA should not be allowed to scrap vessels in any European country.