A chara, - Your otherwise excellent Editorial "An indictment of democracy" (September 11th), on research published by the Government into why people voted as they did in the Lisbon Treaty referendum, ends on a poor note. You say that if a second referendum is held, a better campaign is needed to provide "fuller information about how possible marginalisation or exclusion from the EU would affect Ireland".
Here we go again with negativity. Instead, what we all need is a better understanding of how the EU works and how, if implemented, the Lisbon Treaty will improve this. A better informed electorate can then decide on the merits of the treaty itself.
What we do not need is a repeat of the claim of impending doom if we vote No. Marginalisation is a possible outcome of a No vote, but it cannot result in Irish exclusion from the EU. The EU has no legal power to kick out any member-state. And even if it did, what sort of an indictment of democracy would that be? - Is mise,
JOHN M. ROGERS, Mohill, Co Leitrim.
Madam, - It can be trying to read the intemperate outpourings of those who still refuse to accept the simple fact that the Irish people, by way of a democratic process, rejected the Lisbon Treaty and who fail to realise that any sleight-of-hand attempt to circumvent that decision would be blatantly anti-democratic. By all means let those who wish to bring forward another such treaty do so and we will consider it.
John A. Murphy's attempt at abuse (September 11th) is typical of the hysterics, describing No voters as "wilfully ignorant". It's sad to see such comments coming from an educator. - Yours, etc,
JIM O'SULLIVAN, Rathedmond, Sligo.
Madam, - Joe Costello TD writes (September 10th) that "in 1992, when Denmark rejected the Maastricht Treaty, that country opted out of the euro, defence, justice and common EU citizenship". The suggestion seems to be that since we Irish voted against Lisbon, the same fate awaits us.
Prior to the vote, I read the treaty itself cover to cover, I read editorials and articles on the topic and listened to many debates as well. I cannot remember any clause anywhere in the treaty that outlined such dire consequences for anyone daring to oppose it and none of the Yes camp committed such threats to print.
Indeed, the belief was that the treaty needed every single country to ratify it; otherwise it would be scrapped. - Yours, etc,
JOHN MALLON, Mayfield, Cork.