Foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee happy with €150,000 EU propganda book for kids

Foreign affairs minister Helen McEntee has defended spending more than €150,000 on pro-EU propaganda for schoolchildren that insists the bloc is a “big family” and peddles the importance of security and European values.  

The Department of Foreign Affairs spent €153,649 including VAT on almost 90,000 copies of the books that push the priority of “supporting” Ukraine against Russia but “promoting peace” between Israelis and Palestinians. 

McEntee launched the book as part of Ireland’s EU presidency on 7 September with copies going to 3,217 primary schools shortly after and principals asked to ensure their pupils get copies. 

In response to a parliamentary question from People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy, McEntee said she was "satisfied" the books were value for money. 

“Careful planning has taken place to ensure that costs are managed across all areas of the presidency outreach and engagement programme to ensure value for money,” the response read. “Contracts were awarded in line with public procurement rules, and with the support and advice of the Office of Government Procurement.”  

A happy family

The book’s opening chapter compares EU members to a "big family" who don't always agree but get along. Ukraine is described as a country looking forward to joining. The Irish presidency, the book says, is keen to help candidate countries join. 

A chapter in the book on foreign affairs describes the Russian invasion of Ukraine and commits the EU to supporting Kyiv with financial help both now and rebuilding after the war. 

On the Middle East however it only says the EU will promote peace in the "longrunning conflict between Israelis and Palestinians”.  

The same chapter says the EU has "always worked" to improve life in poorer countries and provides humanitarian aid. It says the Irish EU presidency will push for money for development to be included in the EU budget. 

On migration the book claims the EU wants to be "fair to everyone" and promises faster asylum rules under the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum – a policy criticised by Amnesty International for putting asylum seekers at risk of human rights violations.  

Children who take the book home will read about what the EU says it wishes to accomplish, including “competitiveness (doing business well so that the EU can remain prosperous)”, “values (the ideals that make the EU ‘tick’)” and “security (keeping Europe safe)”.

The book also claims the EU believes strongly in democracy ("giving everyone their say"), equality ("respecting everyone's rights no matter who they are") and the rule of law ("playing fair and sticking to the agreed rules"). 

The Department of Foreign Affairs has been contacted for comment.