Lisbon opponents are isolationists, says Lenihan

OPPONENTS OF the Lisbon Treaty can only offer a march backwards to isolationism and economic decline, Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan said yesterday.

Speaking at the annual conference of the Law Society of Ireland which took place in Budapest yesterday, Minister Lenihan said opponents had a duty to explain what future they saw for Ireland if the treaty was rejected.

"It seems to me that what they are offering is a march backwards towards isolationism . . . to an Ireland increasingly detached from the union that has brought great economic benefits to the Irish people," he said.

"The question is: do we see Europe as a threat or as an opportunity In my view, the experience of the last 35 years speaks for itself. Never have we been more prosperous, more fulfilled and more self-confident . . ."

He said there could be no doubt over the role played by the EU as catalyst for our enormous national advancement. "Financial and technical assistance from the EU over the years gave us the right framework and incentives for economic growth. Irish businesses gained unfettered access to large and lucrative European markets."

He said the arguments against the European treaties had not changed: " are broadly the same as those used to argue against joining the Common Market, as it then was, three and a half decades ago."

The anti-treaty lobby group Libertas said, however, that the treaty was a bad deal for Ireland and a bad deal for Europe.

"It increases the power of unelected special interests and bureaucrats, it weakens Ireland's voice at the negotiating table, and it has been crafted for us by Bertie Ahern. It should be rejected out of hand," said its spokesman, John McGuirk.

Libertas also poured scorn on arguments put forward by Fine Gael and Labour for voters to support the Lisbon Treaty, despite rising levels of distrust towards the Taoiseach and Fianna Fáil.

"These two parties should explain how it can be that they don't trust the Taoiseach to run the country, but appear to have full confidence in his ability to negotiate and sign a major international agreement," it said.