Madam, - Sinn Féin members become furious when it is pointed out that they are on the same side as Le Pen's National Front against the Lisbon Treaty which seeks to improve European democracy and guarantee citizens' rights. Their main rebuttal seems to be that their No is "not the same" as Le Pen's. I beg to differ.
Le Pen says he is pro-European, but not this Europe. So does Sinn Féin. Le Pen says he is against European integration. So does Sinn Féin. Le Pen says he favours a Europe of "co-operating states" (i.e. no power-sharing). So does Sinn Féin. Le Pen says he is defending France's sovereignty. Sinn Féin says it is defending Ireland's sovereignty.
For good measure I should also point out that this is the position of the xenophobic UK Independence Party, of Rupert Murdoch, and of our very own multimillionaire Eurosceptic, Mr Declan Ganley.
No doubt I will be accused of "demonising" Sinn Féin, which is the party's stock response when defending the indefensible. Not so. I am simply pointing out the facts. - Yours, etc,
PROINSIAS DE ROSSA MEP, Labour Party/Socialist Group European Office, Liberty Hall, Dublin 1.
Madam, - According to Tony Brown (January 19th), in my critique of the anti-democratic nature of the EU Commission I am advancing "essentially Irish nationalist themes" based on arguments "which are essentially those of the right-wing, German-hating British media".
Ironically enough, I am writing this letter in Germany, which at present I regard as my second home, and to which I hasten whenever I am more than usually sickened by the narrow, defamatory insinuations that pass for political debate in Ireland.
Far from being a nationalist, I regard myself as an internationalist, and my rejection of the Lisbon Treaty is partly based on a perception that it seeks further to institutionalise a "fortress Europe" mentality.
My concern about undue German influence stems from my acute awareness of the negative role Germany plays in enlisting the entire EU behind its policy of unconditional support for the Israeli rogue state, thus turning the Palestinian people into scapegoats for Germany's past crimes, and precluding rational engagement with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Those like Tony Brown who have recourse to personal abuse merely expose the hollowness of their own arguments. - Yours, etc,
RAYMOND DEANE, Fuerth, Bavaria, Germany.
Madam, - It is no surprise that Joe Higgins of the extreme left (January 17th) and Declan Ganley (January 19th) of the extreme right cannot agree on why exactly the Irish people should oppose the EU Reform Treaty.
Fine Gael will be campaigning in favour of a Yes vote for a number of reasons. We believe that the Treaty's central proposals, such as the abolition of the veto in key policy areas, the creation of a full-time European Council president, a clearer and less complex voting system and making the EU Charter on Fundamental Rights legally binding on member-states will all serve to improve the workings of the EU.
Ironically, the treaty will address many of the concerns expressed by No campaigners in previous European referendums. It will reduce bureaucracy and enhance democracy and the role of both citizens and national parliaments, as well as providing for closer and more rapid co-operation between member-states on issues of mutual concern, such as energy and climate change.
Mr Ganley claims that "the Yes camp. . .seek to keep discussion to a minimum". On the contrary, Fine Gael has been discussing the future of Europe since our participation in the Convention on the Future of Europe in 2002. We will also be providing leaflets and organising a series of public meetings across the country as part of our referendum campaign.
Mr Ganley also displays a deep misunderstanding of the key changes proposed by the Treaty. He claims that "key decision-makers, including a powerful president of Europe, would have no democratic accountability to us the citizens".
He should look to our own parliamentary democracy in this country. Does he suggest that the Taoiseach is not democratically accountable because he is elected by the Oireachtas and not directly by the voters? He displays a worrying lack of understanding of how democracy functions in most Western democracies.
He also omits to mention that the extension of the co-decision procedure will strengthen the role of the European Parliament, the body directly elected by the citizens of Europe. This clearly does not tally with his suggestion that democracy is "sorely lacking" in the EU.
He is failing to engage in honest debate, by claiming to favour a more democratic Europe, while ignoring the key aspects of this treaty strengthening the democratic input of the citizens of Europe. Mr Ganley should follow his own advice and "stick to the facts". - Yours, etc,
LUCINDA CREIGHTON TD, Fine Gael Spokesperson on European Affairs, Leinster House, Dublin 2.