Treaty will tackle our energy crisis
Fergal Daly (Letters, April 5) is wrong to say that if we vote no to the Lisbon Treaty we can casually sit back, assured that all our achievements within the EU are secure.
The truth is that we don't fully know what the consequences of a no vote might be.
What is certain is that the EU will have to change to face the new challenges ahead, such as climate change, global criminal networks and world health threats, such as bird flu.
A vote in favour of the Treaty means that we can be confident that the EU changes in a way that suits Ireland, with our interests protected.
Mr Daly also asks what specifically the Treaty does to make Ireland better for business.
There are many examples, but one obvious one is the new legal powers it gives the EU to address the problem of energy security. Ireland's energy supply is the most vulnerable in Europe and there is very little we can do by ourselves to improve matters.
We are overly reliant on fossil fuels and our position on the edge of Europe means we will be the first to suffer if oil or gas supplies to Europe are disrupted.
With the Lisbon Treaty, Ireland's problem now becomes Europe's problem.
This should be very reassuring to businesses, and indeed all energy users here.
SHARON KEATING
RATHFARNHAM, DUBLIN 16
