LABOUR LEADER:LEFT-WING parties opposed to the Lisbon Treaty have been accused by Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore of putting the country's economic future at risk for purely opportunistic motives.
“The argument coming from groups like Sinn Féin, Joe Higgins and People Against Profit is putting the economy and jobs at risk and the future of the country at risk,” said Mr Gilmore.
“It is the worst form of political opportunism and political cynicism from people who wallow in making things worse. The Labour Party is waging a positive campaign which has the future interests of the country at heart.”
Mr Gilmore was speaking at a press conference focusing on the treaty’s impact on public services.
“Some of those campaigning for a No vote have suggested that the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty would facilitate the privatisation of essential public services.
“In fact, the opposite is the case. The Lisbon Reform Treaty will protect the right of citizens in Ireland and other EU countries to access to public services, such as health and education.”
He said if Lisbon had posed any threat to public services the Labour Party and its colleagues in the Party of European Socialists would not be supporting it.
He said one of the key areas where the treaty sought to strike a better balance between the social and economic needs of European citizens and the demands of a globalised market economy was in public services.
“Since its formation, the European Union has developed as a social market economy – an economy which seeks to harness the prosperity brought about through trade for social ends. That is an ongoing process – one that is helped or hindered by the political composition of the governments of its member states.
“Indeed, on many social issues, and issues of workers’ rights, the EU has often been more socially progressive than Irish governments.
“Among other things, EU membership delivered the principle of equal pay, equal treatment in the social welfare code, as well as strengthened workers’ rights and better safety requirements.”
He said through the Charter of Fundamental Rights the treaty rebalanced the objectives of the EU in favour of the social, civic and economic rights of its citizens.
“In addition, the Lisbon Treaty allows a crucial distinction to be drawn in EU law between services which are appropriate for commercial competition from private operators, such as telecommunications or energy generation, and crucial, non-economic public services such as healthcare, education, policing or social welfare.”