I WOULD like to endorse the sentiments made by Counciller Declan Bree in his column on the Lisbon Treaty referendum, but also point out the failings put forward by the Yes camp.
John Perry claims that the No campaigners are basing their claims on false information in an attempt to frighten people into voting against the treaty. Article 48 is what he has highlighted as the point being falsified, yet reading point 5 it is clear to see what kind of democracy the EU is trying to put in place and force through. Even if Ireland says No, the EU after two years is entitled to refer the matter of this rejection to the European Council, and we can be under no illusions that this is a showroom to push EU agendas through against the will of the people no matter what happens.
Another point made by Marian Harkin at a recent meeting in The Glasshouse Hotel was that there is a safeguard to the Yes side, as even if approved, Ireland is allowed to review how it feels on the treaty in the future. The options after this review ,if Ireland feels she is being negativly affected, are simlilar to Brian Cowen’s approach to the treaty as highlighted by John Ferry - stay in tune and get on with it or exclude herself from the EU. This is the type of democracy we face these days from the Dail to Brussels.
Marian Harkin also opens her piece on the Treaty with a straight out assumption that the people of this region will simply vote No as a result of the cancer services issue, a sort of reprisal vendetta against the bigwigs in Dublin. I would be willing to grant the people more respect in this manner and will not simply vote No because of their justified anger in relation to the dropping of critical health services for our region, but also because they see and realise the total negative and dominating effect this treaty will have on Ireland as a nation.
Marian made a point about theAmerican Chamber of Commerce. She wants you to listen to a person speaking for American interests to determine Ireland’s future. She wants you to listen to a person speaking who will put profit in front of workers. A foreign multinational banding who speak only for the wellbeing of themselves and their profits, not for the interest in Ireland.
If she is willing to tackle the issue along these lines, she should highlight the main points of the Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base across the EU which is being approved in this Treaty, which at first will be optional but if proving troublesome the Commision can take control and force it as a standard rate for all of the EU.
This treaty asks you to accept making Ireland’s voice even smaller, take away Ireland’s right to a permanent voice to show its concerns and thoughts in Europe, and when this voice is allowed it will be elected in Brussels not in Ireland. The UK and Germany’s influence will shoot upwards up to four times what it is currently. Democracy at work?
The EU started out as a loose economic grouping to try to nuture relations between countries on an economic scale. Now it’s on its way to becoming a centralised United States of Europe. The time has come for a stop to this move - this is the time to say No.
Sean Kelly
32 County Sovereignty Movement,
Sligo
