The Taoiseach Enda Kenny has joined European Union (EU) leaders in Norway to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

It has been collected by 3 EU representatives Hermann Van Rompuy, Jose-Manuel Barroso and Martin Shultz.

The accolade is awarded for work in a wide range of fields including advocacy of human rights, mediation of international conflicts, and arms control.

The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by a committee of 5 persons who are chosen by the Norwegian Parliament in Oslo.

Disagreement over award

But not everyone agrees that the EU is the correct recipient.

The People's Movement in Ireland claims the EU is responsible for 32% of arms exports around the world and they say this goes against the criteria set out by Alfred Nobel for qualifying for the award.

A candlelight vigil was held outside the offices of the European parliament in Dublin yesterday in protest against the awarding of the prize.

Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee is Thorbjørn Jagland.

In his speech at the award ceremony he said "for Europe, where both world wars had broken out, the new internationalism had to be a binding commitment.  It had to build on human rights, democracy, and enforceable principles of the rule of law. And on economic cooperation aimed at making the countries equal partners in the European marketplace.  By these means the countries would be bound together so as to make new wars impossible".

"The EU has constantly been a central driving force throughout these processes of reconciliation...The Nobel Peace Prize is therefore both deserved and necessary. We offer our congratulations".

He also added that "In the light of the financial crisis that is affecting so many innocent people, we can see that the political framework in which the Union is rooted is more important now than ever.  We must stand together". 

He believes it sends a message that peace cannot be taken for granted.