JOHN FOLEY,
Sir, - "The Nice Treaty, no matter what its good intentions, is a document that has been democratically tested in only one member-state and that is Ireland. It failed to meet the democratic test in this nation.
"It is an arrogance for any Commissioner in Europe to ignore the fundamental fact that the Irish people have spoken with some clarity on this matter . . .
"So far as the Nice Treaty is concerned, the Irish people have spoken and, like it or lump it, the Commission and its president have no option but to accept it."
Where did these wise words come from? Was it Sinn Féin, the Greens or the No to Nice Campaign? No, it was our very own Minister for Europe, Dick Roche, making a contribution to Dáil debates on June 21st last year.- Yours, etc,
JOHN FOLEY,
Westcourt,
Tralee,
Co Kerry.
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Sir, - I note with some concern the comments of Tjerk Westerterp (September 9th). He respectfully calls on the Irish people to vote No to Nice in the forthcoming referendum, and explains why.
Firstly, he writes, the treaty does not prepare the institutions for enlargement. Here he is not specific. He does not cite a single example of how the treaty fails to prepare the institutions for enlargement, nor does he advocate a single reform that would better prepare the institutions for enlargement. This lack of specificity is to be regretted, given that the treaty is designed to enable enlargement.
Secondly, Mr Westerterp writes that the treaty fails to close "the so-called democratic deficit" of the Union. Here he is specific. Closing "the so-called democratic deficit" Mr Westerterp believes, consists in increased power being given to the European Parliament. What he fails to recognise is that by increasing the legislative power of the parliament, representation in which is based on population, the individual states, particularly the smaller ones, would lose out.
What Nice does is to strike a balance. It does not achieve everything, but it does enable enlargement and it does protect the voices and the interests of the smaller states. - Is mise,
ROSS MAGUIRE,
St Kevin's Road,
Portobello,
Dublin 8.
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Sir, - Even though his Government has chosen not to impose restrictions on immigration from applicant states the Taoiseach blusters (The Irish Times, September 7th) that there won't be "massive migration" from Eastern Europe. Probably not, but as someone who broadly favours expansion I wish he was more convincing.
His claim that Germany and Austria will be the countries most likely to receive large numbers is unfounded: they, unlike Ireland, may impose restrictions for up to seven years after accession.
His analogy with the accession of Greece, Spain and Portugal is false. So far as I know, before accession Iberians or Greeks weren't hiding in containers to get here. In other words, there is a large pool of would-be migrants from applicant countries that is at present pent up.
It's hard to understand why the Government didn't simply follow what all but four EU states have done, especially given that a razor-thin margin may decide Nice. Is the Government orchestrating some plot to ensure a reserve army of labour to keep downward pressure on wages? No, a plot requires planning and a directing intelligence. - Yours, etc.,
PÁDRAIG LENIHAN,
Dangan Upper,
Galway.
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Sir, - Voting No in the Nice referendum just as an anti-Government protest would not only be an "own goal" but extremely short-sighted. The repercussions to this country for doing the dirty on other small countries who wish to join the EU could eventually be disastrous for us.
The effect of a No vote being carried would not only be felt economically by us voters, but by our children and grandchildren also. - Yours, etc.,
ROBERT WARD,
Ashton,
Blessington,
Co Wicklow.