Lisbon Treaty to breach neutrality
Thursday January 24 2008
Prionsias de Rossa's letter was very instructive in that he did not put forward even one reason why the people of Ireland should support the Lisbon Treaty (Letters, January 21).
Instead he trots out nonsense that many in his own party wouldn't accept, never mind the general public.
For the record, I firmly believe that Ireland's place is in Europe.
Co-operation with our European partners is valuable and must continue.
The challenge is to build a modern, democratic Europe for a modern, democratic Ireland.
The Lisbon Treaty, like many of the treaties that went before it, does not deliver reform, efficiency or democracy.
Put simply it is a bad deal for Ireland. It gives the EU too much power and reduces our ability to stop decisions that are not in Ireland's interests.
It cuts our voting strength on the European Council by more than half and ends our automatic right to a Commissioner.
It erodes neutrality by drawing this state into a common defence and obliging us to increase military spending.
It allows the EU to act in the international arena in the same way as a state and to form a diplomatic corps.
It seriously undermines workers' rights and public services.
Over the coming weeks, Sinn Fein will be holding public meetings across the State on the Lisbon Treaty and I would invite people to attend.
PARNELL SQUARE, DUBLIN 1
