Sir, - I am appalled and angry that a member of our national parliament, Seamus Healy TD, should encourage Irish voters to reject the Nice Treaty as a way of punishing the Government for its failures. That's what elections are for.
Sir, - I am appalled and angry that a member of our national parliament, Seamus Healy TD, should encourage Irish voters to reject the Nice Treaty as a way of punishing the Government for its failures. That's what elections are for. Is he incapable of arguing the pros and cons of the Treaty? Does he think the electorate is incapable of digesting the arguments and making choices? Does he realise how important this is?
If Irish people vote to reject the Nice referendum, the only people I believe they will be punishing is themselves. The Government will be left standing.
Healy has expressed a cynical, reprehensible and irresponsible viewpoint and it is a great insult to the applicant nations whose future depends on the decision we take on October 19th. Let the real issues be debated and allow people to make up their minds.
Perhaps the people of Tipperary South should vote Yes to Nice to punish their TD for his ignorance. - Yours, etc.,
JOANNE HARMON,
Reuben Street,
Dublin 8.
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Sir, - The only reason I can imagine for voting in favour of the Nice Treaty is its potential for encouraging a European superstate which might balance an out-of-control American superstate. Perhaps this is the real, but unspoken, reason all of our great and good are desperately trying to persuade us to reverse our democratic decision of last year. But the only person who, as usual, is bluntly honest about the matter is our Tánaiste.
As reported by Conor O'Clery in your edition of September 6th, Mary Harney gave out the clear message (in Washington of course) that we should vote Yes principally to assist the growth of American influence in Europe. How come? Voting No would displease American multinational investors, who continue to use Ireland as an economic Trojan horse to invade the EU.
Never trust Greeks bearing gifts. I shall vote No. - Yours, etc.,
BOB QUINN,
Béal an Daingin,
Co Galway.
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Sir, - Anthony Coughlan (September 16th) makes claims about "enhanced co-operation" in an enlarged EU which do not stand up.
Firstly, enhanced co-operation was provided for in the Amsterdam Treaty of 1997 which set down general rules and conditions. This was done because it was considered essential that any initiative in enhanced co-operation should take place inside the structure of the European Union, rather than outside. It provides that member-states, in certain circumstances, might wish to co-operate in a policy area where they have a common interest and where other members do not share that interest.
As the Union is likely to grow to 27 or more members, the Nice Treaty sets out amended rules for accommodating diversity in an enlarged EU. These rules include the following:
1. Whereas enhanced co-operation must involve a minimum of eight members, and must be open to any others wishing to join at a later stage, in a union of 27 member-states an initiative by any eight would require the support of at least another six (i.e. 14 out of 27) to produce a majority under the Qualified Majority Voting system (QMV). For a project to proceed under enhanced co-operation requires over 71 per cent of votes at the Council of Ministers, representing at least 62 per cent of the population of the Union.
2. A project must have the aim of promoting and furthering the objectives and interests of the Union and must not be exclusive or divisive.
3. It must respect the treaties and the institutional framework of the Union.
4. It must respect the existing body of EU rules and laws (the Acquis) and must not infringe on areas within the Union's exclusive competence such as the CAP.
5. It cannot operate to the detriment of the political or economic rights of other member-states.
6. It may not apply to military or defence matters.
7. Any initiative can be authorised only if it can be established that its objective cannot be attained within a reasonable period by working within the existing treaty provisions.
The decision to allow an initiative to proceed will be taken in the Council of Ministers by QMV, but with a right of veto for individual member-states in the general area of the Common Foreign and Security Policy.
A summary of these provisions is contained in Leaflet No. 9, "The Nice Treaty - explaining the Issues", written by Mr Tony Browne and published by the Institute of European Affairs. This excellent series of documents is available directly from the IEA. - Yours, etc.,
GAY MITCHELL,
Fine Gael Spokesperson
on Foreign Affairs,
Dáil Éireann,
Dublin 2.