Lecturer highlights 'inaccuracy' of No side

THE CHANGES proposed by the Lisbon Treaty are so minimal that the need for a referendum on the matter in Ireland is not clear, according to a Cork-based lecturer in EU law.

Declan Walsh, of the faculty of law at University College Cork, addressed members of the local business community on the issue at a meeting last night.

Mr Walsh said the requirement for a referendum on the treaty was "not absolutely clear", but given that it was taking place he wanted to address many of the "inaccuracies being brought forward by the No campaign".

"The No campaign keeps saying that this may be the last ever referendum on issues of Ireland, the European Union and constitutional change.

"However, the treaty quite clearly states that any future changes would have to come about by constitutional provision of each member state, which in the case of Ireland is a referendum."

Mr Walsh said the No campaign continually attempted to suggest that the Lisbon Treaty would allow Ireland's attractive corporate tax rate of 10 per cent to be changed, but this was in no way true.

"While it is true that there is a provision of enhanced co-operation whereby a number of states can move forward on policy changes of their own, any proposal to bring across-the-board change in Ireland's corporate tax would have to be decided by the Irish Government and Taoiseach."

Fewer than 20 people were present for the meeting, which was organised by the pro-treaty Business Alliance for Europe.

Among those present were Dr Joan Power, regional director of the Irish Blood Transfusion Board, Frank O'Mahoney, former vice-president of Pepsi Cola International, and Liz Keane of Boston Scientific in Cork.

As well as Mr Walsh, speakers included Robin O'Sullivan of O'Sullivan PR, Brendan Butler, director of international legal affairs with the employers' body Ibec, and MEP Pat Cox.