European pact on budget discipline

A chara, – “Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin (Front page, January 31st) said his view remained that the people must be consulted…

A chara, – “Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin (Front page, January 31st) said his view remained that the people must be consulted on any significant change on Europe”. I nearly choked on my coco pops! This from the same man, who, as a minister sat in a government that twice ignored the democratic will of the Irish people (Nice I and Lisbon I); a government that effectively apologised to Brussels for these results and then browbeat and cajoled the electorate into returning the “right” outcomes in the referendum re-runs. Revisionism, how are ya! – Is mise,

CHRIS MacMANUS,

Maugheraboy, Sligo.

Sir, – John Ferry (February 1st) believes that ratification of the Lisbon treaty was the end of democracy and that “now we are in a dictatorship”. My understanding of the meaning of the term dictatorship is that of an autocratic government ruled through violence and fear by a single individual, namely the dictator. To liken the Lisbon treaty and the current proposed EU treaty on tighter budget discipline to a dictatorship is a disservice to all those unfortunate enough to live under the tyranny of true dictatorships, past and present. This is an example of scaremongering at its worst.

Ireland is a small open economy on the edge of Europe. It is part of the EU economic union and a member of the euro single currency area. Oh, and by the way it’s bankrupt. Given the economic mess created by Irish governments in recent times, and indeed the crisis in the euro zone, I confess to being relieved at the prospect of tighter budgetary disciplines in Ireland and across Europe. – Yours, etc,

FEILIM O’CAOIMH,

Braemor Road,

Churchtown, Dublin 14.

Sir, – It seems Micheál Martin has decided to follow in the footsteps of Sinn Féin and other opposition TDs by calling for a referendum on the new fiscal agreement, regardless of the outcome of the Attorney General’s decision on its constitutional status (World News, February 1st). If this is the Fianna Fáil leader’s idea of how to strengthen support for his ailing party, he has much to learn about leadership. Aping the nonsensical bleating of the world’s most clueless opposition will surely see his party plummet to a new low.

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Any attempt by Fianna Fáil to “out-green” Sinn Féin will be seen by the electorate for what it is – a pathetic surrender of principle. – Yours, etc,

NIALL GINTY,

The Demesne,

Killester, Dublin 5.

Sir, – It is essential that the fiscal compact be included in the Constitution by way of a referendum. It is only in this way that we can prevent a future Fianna Fáil government from running up the national debt and wrecking the economy all over again. – Yours, etc,

TIM O’SULLIVAN,

Maywood Avenue,

Dublin 5.

Sir, – The European Fiscal Pact 2012, states that members “should refrain from adopting any measure which could jeopardise the attainment of the Union’s objectives”. In similar words, economic measures must be implemented, in the interest of the EU, rather than in the interest of the member state.

Could this mean that member states are also legally obliged to adopt economic measures to bail out certain debunked financial institutions in the interest of the EU, even at the risk of irreparable societal damage to that state? – Yours, etc,

AARON DILLON,

Cloonlara Crescent,

Finglas South, Dublin 11.

Sir, – The Opposition’s call for a referendum on European fiscal agreements, alas, has more to do with local politics than our democratic rights, We may have a government no better than the last, but the same could be said of our opposition. Nothing will change just the seat they sit on. – Yours, etc,

CONAL Mc MENAMIN,

Skreen Road,

Dublin 7.

Sir, – The answer to Louis Hogan (February 1st), is we live in a parliamentary democracy. That is a system where we democratically elect representatives to pass legislation and govern us for a set period of time.

We do not live in a plebiscitary democracy such as Switzerland where referendums are a feature of decision making. The essence of the Irish system is that the responsibility is that of the duly elected government to govern and referenda are used when only required by the Constitution.

It should be noted that all current members of the EU are parliamentary democracies and in almost all instances decisions on EU issues are made without using referendums.

While it is accepted that there is a demand for a referendum on the fiscal compact treaty as expressed through opinion polls, this does not mean it should be granted. Government by opinion poll is not part of our system or a particularly good way of running a country. We should be very wary of decision-making by politicians using opinion polls as the over use of focus group opinion surveys by the last government contributed significantly to the problems we are now facing. – Yours, etc,

OWEN BROOKS,

Rowanbyrn,

Blackrock, Co Dublin.