Madam, - Following the consultative referendums on the European constitution in France and the Netherlands there have been calls from the anti-European Union camp for the ratification process to be discontinued in Ireland and elsewhere. I disagree.
Countries representing approximately 50 per cent of the population of Europe have said "Yes". There is every reason to believe many others will do likewise. It would be undemocratic to deny those of us, who have not yet voted, the opportunity to do so.
Let's continue with the process and when all countries have spoken we can judge what is politically feasible at that point. If some member-states need more time, as suggested by the Czech prime minister, then a new deadline should be set, but the constitution must not be shelved.
The far right and far left constantly decry the inadequacy of democratic accountability at European level while they are clearly determined to stymie all efforts to remedy those defects. They offer instead a reheated nationalism and fear of "foreigners". This is usually masked as a defence of "our" democracy and "our" jobs as if it were possible or even desirable to ring-fence ourselves in this way. Ironically, the values-driven Union provided for in the constitution is in fact needed to address the concerns of many of the "No" voters in France and the Netherlands.
When the European Council of Heads of State and Prime Ministers meet on June 16th and 17th to consider this crisis, they and the Commission need to bear in mind that driving forward with market reforms without strengthening the democratic, social and environmental dimension of Europe will feed the current malaise, and that "re-nationalising" Europe will destroy it. - Yours, etc,
PROINSIAS DE ROSSA, MEP, Socialist Group, Labour European Office, Liberty Hall, Dublin 1.
Madam, - Despite the "Non" and the "Nee" votes of France and the Netherlands, the Taoiseach is still considering asking the Irish electorate to vote on the European constitutional treaty. I think he is correct, as this constitution has the support of the three main political parties in the Dáil.
The present Government's economic policy is to fuel growth with cheap, unrestricted immigrant labour. This is forcing Irish workers into a race to the bottom for low-paid, non-union labour, long hours and minimal benefits.
This policy is so successful that currently 37 per cent of our work force is engaged in the low-wage sector of the economy. The gap between rich and poor continues to grow and no account is taken of our quality of life as Irish citizens, nor how it affects us as a small indigenous population on a small island.
This constitutional treaty will copper-fasten this development. It will allow the wealthy to use their increased profits to further their political influence and to use this influence in the political establishments of Europe so that all aspects of society can be reduced to economy for economy's sake.
So roll out the referendum, and give the Irish people an opportunity to inform the three main parties what we think of their intentions. - Yours, etc,
SIMON O'DONNELL, Church Place, Rathmines, Dublin 6.
Madam, - In the aftermath of the French referendum your newspaper quoted German opposition leader Angela Merkel's remark that the European Union needs to have "an honest discussion about Turkey's membership". Many EU citizens believe that the prospect of Turkish membership represents an approaching misadventure for the European Union at political, economic, and cultural levels.
Later this month, as the European Council sits down to discuss the fall-out from the two referendums, a very large, mostly Asian elephant will be sitting in the corner of the room. The ministers will ignore it at their peril. - Yours, etc,
CONOR O'BRIEN, Mount Anville Park, Dublin 14.
Madam, - Following the Netherlands' decisive "No" to the proposed EU constitution, Irish politicians need to be more open and transparent about the issues behind this failed constitution.
Your excellent paper on May 31st quoted Guido Westerwelle, leader of Germany's Liberal Free Democrats, saying about the French "No" that "this is a serious setback for our German project of advancing European unification".
Irish politicians try to hide the real meaning of "ever closer union in Europe", but I think the statements from Herr Westerwelle and other European leaders are clear. "European unification" can mean only one thing - a developing federal European state.
Although this fact is fully accepted in Europe, our Irish politicians have been in denial about this ultimate aim of the EU. Let us hope they are prepared to be more forthcoming before they lead us into the next referendum on Europe. - Yours, etc,
DICK HUMPHREYS, Mount Merrion, Co Dublin.