Madam, – John Hocking’s (August 13th) wish for a Europe of independent nations contradicts his appeal to consider British public opinion on the Lisbon Treaty. Wouldn’t it be an ultimate demonstration of our own independence as a nation of voters if we thought about the treaty’s effect on Ireland rather than what the good people of Essex think? – Yours, etc,
LEE DALY,
Bawnouges,
Baltinglass,
Co Wicklow.
Madam, – Roger Cole’s article (Opinion, August 13th) is more of a polemic than a contribution to a reasoned debate on the forthcoming referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. He draws on historical figures such as Tone, O’Connell, Butt Redmond, Collins and De Valera, all of whom lived and acted in their own times, very different from now and hardly relevant to a debate on the Lisbon Treaty.
He refers to José Manuel Barroso’s empire: this is breathtaking, Mr Barroso is president of the EU commission and serves at the will of the democratically elected governments of the 27 EU member states. The EU political elite to which Mr Cole refers consists of democratically elected governments, each one subject to the decision of the people in their own country at elections. I have never heard of any imperial agenda of the EU. Has Mr Cole? What country or countries is the EU intending to annex into the EU empire? My understanding is that there are several countries waiting to join and none is fighting a battle to leave or to avoid annexation by the EU.
With regard to militarisation and neutrality, the EU specifically respects the individual constitutional position of each member state, no state is obliged to give up their traditional position. If Mr Cole has issues with “turning Ireland into a US aircraft carrier”, he should fight this in Ireland where the decisions on landing rights for US military aircraft are made. Voting against the Lisbon treaty will have absolutely no effect on this.
It is important to remember that the EU is the coming together of sovereign democratic governments, currently 27 in all, to act together for the greater good of all members. Each member-state will ratify (or not) the Lisbon Treaty in accordance with their own constitutional provisions. The treaty was negotiated by 27 countries, each one looking to its own interests. This is not a treaty imposed by some EU political elite. I find the treaty to be a good one and will be voting for it. Mr Cole has provided no argument to convince me otherwise. – Yours, etc,
VINCENT MURPHY,
Douglas Road,
Cork.
Madam, – William Quill (August 17th) suggests that we have nothing to worry about in relation to the increased militarisation of the EU as “Government policy does not allow our Defence Forces to take part in any action not sanctioned by the UN”. Given the lack of any binding criteria for EU Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), a policy which member- states “shall” uphold in all international forums including the UN, I do not share Mr Quill’s confidence that we will not be tied into supporting a foreign policy which, if Lisbon is ratified, will include military intervention for “peace making”, an entirely different scenario from our traditional role as “peace keepers”.
While member-states currently have a veto on EU foreign policy, ratification of the Lisbon Treaty would allow the EU Council to alter the manner in which CFSP is decided, from unanimity to qualified majority vote thus removing Ireland’s veto.
Earlier this year we saw direct evidence of how Ireland’s voice in the UN is being silenced in favour of a single EU representation. The German ambassador, speaking on behalf of all EU states, refused to support a UN Human Rights Council resolution critical of Israel’s action in Gaza.
Ireland found itself lumped together with states that shelter Israel from sanction regardless of its gross human rights violations.
This situation will be set in stone if the Lisbon treaty is ratified, thus establishing a new post of EU High Representative to the Union for Foreign and Security Policy who will speak on behalf of all EU states in the UN. If that happens Ireland’s role on the international stage will be reduced to providing the music, dancing and bowls of shamrock for our new masters. – Yours, etc,
SEAN CLINTON,
Irish Friends of Palestine Against Lisbon,
Lisnagry,
Co Limerick.