Outcome draws mixed Irish response

EUROPEAN CONVENTION: There has been mixed political reaction from Opposition parties to the outcome of the European Convention…

EUROPEAN CONVENTION: There has been mixed political reaction from Opposition parties to the outcome of the European Convention's deliberations. Fine Gael and Labour strongly welcomed the draft constitution, but the Greens had reservations, and Sinn Féin expressed serious concern about some provisions.

The Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, said the treaty included "important protections" for Ireland and he urged member-state governments not to attempt to "unravel" its provisions.

"The Convention's draft constitutional treaty represents the outcome of 16 months of intensive negotiations between representatives of the EU institutions, national governments and parliaments.

"It includes important protections for Ireland and other smaller member-states, particularly in the area of equal representation in the European Commission," he said.

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Congratulating his party colleague, Mr John Bruton, for playing "a crucial role", Mr Kenny added: "The inclusive and transparent way in which this draft was produced must not be undermined in the inter-governmental phase of the process."

The treaty was "a constitution for social justice in Europe", according to the Convention member and Labour MEP for Dublin, Mr Proinsias De Rossa. "The fact that the Convention, involving over 200 parliamentarians from 28 states, has produced a document which represents a genuine consensus must be recognised as a major achievement," he said.

Claiming that the draft text represented major progress in many areas of great importance to ordinary citizens, he continued: "Major advances have been made in the social and environmental fields. The values of liberty, equality and solidarity are asserted and the Union's objectives commit it to combat social exclusion and discrimination and to promote the equality of women and men. The incorporation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights as a legally binding part of the Constitution is a significant achievement."

The Green Party TD and Convention representative, Mr John Gormley, welcomed "certain aspects" of the new Constitution, but said other elements were "extremely problematic".

He added: "In particular, Articles 40.3, 40.6 and 40.7 mean that Ireland will have to increase its defence spending considerably and could join a common defence without a referendum."

A Sinn Féin spokesman said: "Our bottom line is that while we are not opposed to the consolidation and simplification of existing EU treaties, we are opposed to such a process being used to diminish national sovereignty and increase the powers of EU institutions.

"We believe the draft constitution would establish the EU as a single state legally and politically and would advance the project to turn the EU into a potential world power."

The Fine Gael MEP and Convention delegate, Mr John Cushnahan, said the final text was "a massive improvement" on the original proposals of Mr Valéry Giscard d'Estaing.

However, he added: "A real danger exists that the IGC could unravel this compromise by strengthening inter-governmentalism at the expense of the community method."

Mr Roger Cole of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance (PANA) said the "solidarity clause" for joint action against terrorism was that it could draw Ireland into conflicts like the Middle East, "where many of those defined as terrorists are in fact fighting for their national liberation".