Sir, - Oh, our infinite stupidity! We have rejected the Nice Treaty. We have failed in our duty to lovingly embrace everything the EU tosses at us. But what more would you expect? We are, after, all a people lacking in intelligence, needing to have our opinions dictated to us by our benign Government.
Thankfully, since we fundamentally lack the ability to make an independent decision, our leaders have generously deigned to give us a second change. So let us all bow our heads in shame and beg forgiveness of Mr Prodi for our audacity in not doing as we were told. We must show that we are good little Europeans and, before we embarrass ourselves any further, promise to try to do better next time.
With sentiments such as the above emanating from Leinster House, am I to understand that the Irish Government is going to adhere to its time-honoured policy of, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try, again" in relation to the Treaty of Nice? It's all strangely reminiscent of the divorce referendum saga, which entailed a proposition being repeatedly presented to the people until it was ratified. Then, as now, several arguments were put forward to bring the validity of the outcome into doubt.
Did our Government then call for yet another referendum? No. Why? Because the result fitted its political agenda nicely. These double standards of successive governments have been brought to the fore again post-Nice.
Thus, it seems the system we are operating under in Ireland today is not founded on the will of the people but on that of politicians anxious to "Brownie-points" in Brussels. Welcome to the new democracy, Dβil ╔ireann style. - Is mise,
Aisling Byrne, Callary Road, Mount Merrion, Co Dublin.
