CRITICISM OF the Lisbon Treaty by Socialist MEP Joe Higgins have been sharply rejected by the Ireland for Europe and We Belong groups, both of which are campaigning for a Yes vote in the October 2nd referendum.
Ireland for Europe director Pat Cox said in a statement that, far from being a right-wing plot against workers, the Lisbon Treaty text pledged to promote “a social market economy aiming at full employment and social progress”.
Pointing out that the treaty had already been ratified in the parliaments of all other EU member states, Mr Cox continued: “Eighty five per cent of the directly-elected representatives across Europe voted Yes to Lisbon – from opposition parties as well as government ones; from parties of the left, centre and right.”
We Belong director Olivia Buckley said the Socialist MEP’s outlook on Europe “offers little to the 436,0000 ordinary Irish people who are today unemployed and looking for a future”.
“Joe Higgins’s approach to Ireland’s future is negative and provides little advantage for the thousands of workers and families who are looking for stability and a path to economic recovery,” Ms Buckley added.
Sinn Féin vice-president Mary Lou McDonald accused Mr Cox of “insulting the electorate and avoiding a real debate on the content of the Lisbon Treaty”.
Fianna Fáil MEP Pat the Cope Gallagher said the claims by Mr Higgins that there had been no real changes to the treaty since last year’s referendum were “disingenuous” and “wrong”.