Say Yes to Lisbon and a better EU
Monday May 12 2008
By comparison, the Lisbon Treaty may seem more straightforward than the Good Friday and the St Andrews' agreements. The desire to move on together, leaving past divisions behind, is a principal each has in common. To me, Lisbon is about doing the same thing on a European stage. Lisbon has substantial advantages for the Irish people. The treaty contains a Charter of Fundamental Rights and gives the Dail new powers to frame EU legislation. Ireland also retains its veto to protect neutrality and our tax regime.
There are debates for other days as to how the Irish Government best frames or interprets EU guidelines on a range of things. So, too, will there be opportunities to punish the politicians for shortcomings on a range of domestic issues. The local and European elections next summer is such an occasion for delivering a message through the ballot box.
In the meantime, as a member of the Labour Party -- which in turn is affiliated to the Party of European Socialists and the Socialist International -- I believe a Yes vote in the Lisbon Reform Treaty Referendum on June 12 is a vote for a better Europe.
