EU:The European Parliament has given a resounding approval to the Lisbon Treaty and has recommended that member States ratify it before the end of the year to pave the way for European Parliament elections in 2009.
The debate yesterday on the treaty, which resulted in 525 votes in favour compared to 115 against and 29 abstentions, was however, notable for the demonstrations organised by the No lobby. It also featured an alliance which saw British conservatives and Traditional Unionist Voice MEP Jim Allister align with Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald against the treaty.
As the debate got under way yesterday morning, a number of protesters dressed as chickens demonstrated outside the chamber telling journalists the European Union was "chicken" for not holding an EU-wide referendum on the issue. A number of MEPs also expressed their dissatisfaction with the treaty by wearing yellow jumpers bearing the words "chicken" and "referendum".
Richard Corbett, who with Inigo Mendez De Vigo proposed approval of the treaty, told the parliament that it would be more democratic as it envisaged legislation would be subject to advance scrutiny by national parliaments and the council of ministers before coming before the European Parliament.
The parliament would also elect the president of the European Commission, giving it full power over the budget and agriculture, he said. The new treaty also enshrines the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
At a press conference after the vote, Mr Corbett remarked that the parliament had approved the Lisbon Treaty by a higher margin than it had approved the EU constitution, three years ago. He also noted the alliance of "far right and extreme left" groups in opposition to the treaty, particularly in relation to the alliance with Sinn Féin, "which as any student of Irish history will tell you is unusual to say the least".
For Sinn Féin, Mary Lou McDonald spoke of a "fear of referendums" in all member states except Ireland. "The Lisbon Treaty commits us to more military spending and increased support of armaments . . . why do we keep on emulating the USA?" she asked.
"This treaty is not about reform or efficiency, it is a carte blanche for further eroding democracy." She called it a "charter for further privatisation" There is "nothing new on the protection of workers rights and nothing new on the environment.
Would people of Europe support such a treaty?" she asked. "I believe not. That's why they are not being asked. The Lisbon Treaty is a bad deal for Ireland, a bad deal for Europe and a bad deal for the wider world."
As she concluded Ms McDonald's comments were applauded by Mr Allister.
However, Fianna Fáil's Brian Crowley as leader of the UEN group said the treaty represented progress for the Union and would lead to stronger economic performance by the single market, which had been good to Ireland over the last 30 years.
The debate saw Ms McDonald (Dublin) and Independent Kathy Sinnott (South) vote against the treaty.
In favour were Fine Gael's Maireád McGuinness (East), Avril Doyle (East), Gay Mitchell (Dublin), Colm Burke (South) and Jim Higgins (North West). Fianna Fáil's Brian Crowley (South), Seán Ó Neachtáin (North West), Liam Aylward (East), and Eoin Ryan (Dublin) were also in favour as were Labour's Proinsias De Rossa (Dublin) and Marian Harkin (North West).