Campaigners for a No vote in the Lisbon referendum handed in mock P45 forms today to the leaders of political parties at Leinster House.
In a protest to mark the coming into effect of the Treaty, the People’s Movement said the Dáil and Seanad should be reduced “in line with the reduction of legislative powers from national parliaments which have now moved to Brussels”.
Former MEP for Dublin, Patricia McKenna claimed over 78 per cent of our laws come from Brussels. "Surely with so much decision-making power now residing in Brussels it is unnecessary to burden the taxpayer with the current over-resourced Houses of the Oireachtas.”
Meanwhile, Labour Party spokesman on Europe, Joe Costello TD said in a statement: “There is a palpable sense of relief that the Lisbon Treaty is at last fully in place.”
The Lisbon Treaty made provision for “a new enhanced role” for national parliaments in EU affairs. “It gives us a far greater role in influencing EU policy and laws,” Mr Costello added.
