Madam - Apropos the visit of President Sarkozy, many people - especially leaders on the No side - repeatedly insist that "Ireland is at the heart of Europe". I wonder.
A Eurobarometer survey sometime ago reportedly showed only the British among the 27 member states as less conscious of a European identity than the Irish. The economist Michael O'Sullivan, in his fascinating book, Ireland and the Global Question, points out that, from the medieval period onwards, the (English/British) occupation of Ireland spelled isolation from the major experiences, positive and negative, which have shaped Europe. He wonders if, rather than engaging in a Boston/Berlin debate, we shouldn't consider it to be better characterised as a Birmingham/Berlin contrast. He lists a range of ways in which, politically, economically, socially and culturally, we have been moving closer to Britain and claims that, in recent years, we have given the impression of being Britain's lieutenant in Brussels.
Many have denounced as arrogant President Sarkozy's recent reported statement that Ireland must hold another referendum. One has only to read Declan Ganley's remarks as reported in the Sunday Tribune(July 20th) to wonder if the kettle is not calling the pot black.
Hyper-sensitivity is sometimes the sign of an underlying inferiority complex. Our recent economic success was supposed to have shown a new, self-confident Ireland to the world. Yet we have been easily persuaded by a set of fear-filled arguments that the Europeans who have been paying for our new motorways and supporting our farmers for decades are really conspiring to rob us of our freedom. Is this the attitude of a people sure of its position in the world? Bewilderment at our recent economic difficulties, the portents for which were flagged for long by perceptive commentators, should confirm that, as a people, we need to wake up. Fast. - Yours, etc,
TOM GILLEN,
Weston Park,
Dundrum,
Dublin 14.
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Madam, - Your report, "Kouchner seeks to quell Lisbon controversy" (July 18th) quotes French foreign minister Bernard Kouchner as saying in reference to Ireland's position on the Lisbon Treaty: "You can't hide behind your little finger." I find it bemusing that on each occasion the French minister's PR machine goes into action, it seems to increasingly alienate rather than ingratiate the section of the Irish public opposed to the treaty. Mr Kouchner is maybe somehow still unaware that many showed their discontent with the Lisbon Treaty not by hiding behind their diminutive digit but, by using their democratic right to vote No and thus, to adapt the analogy to hand, gave a metaphorical middle finger to the treaty as it stands. - Yours, in full view of fingers,
PAUL MADDEN,
Croydon Green,
Marino,
Dublin 3.
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Madam, - In recent times we have experienced two attempts to interfere in our democratic system and from two different ends of the spectrum as it were. On the one hand we have President Sarkozy with his comments that "the Irish must vote again". It is clear that he does not respect the Irish No vote and he does not equate the Irish No with the French No or the Dutch No. He is interfering with our democratic system by saying "we got it wrong" and we will have to revisit the situation by voting again. It is President Sarkozy who has got it wrong. One of the pillars of Lisbon is unanimity, this is its first test and I believe it will not fail that test, indeed it cannot fail that test.
Undue pressure to fit in with somebody else's timetable is not part of the equation and interference in the business of a sovereign member state in this manner is simply not acceptable.
However, President Sarkozy is not on his own.
On the other side we have the reported comments of Declan Ganley from the US suggesting that "If they come back with another referendum the No vote will be even bigger". He too interferes with our democratic system by denying the Irish Government the right to negotiate a better deal on behalf of the Irish people. He goes further than Sarkozy, he already has decided how the Irish people will vote without knowing the content or the context - that surely brings the statement "if you don't know vote No" to a new level.
Basically Mr Ganley is saying that it doesn't matter what the deal is, the answer is No. That may be good enough for Libertas but I believe the Irish people are much wiser than that and will judge every situation on its merits.
A democratic deficit? Neither presidents nor multimillionaires have the right to dictate, it is the people who have already taken the decision and who in the future if circumstances change may again take decisions.
Finally, I think it is time we stopped our navel-gazing about Lisbon and got down to the important business of dealing with the current economic situation - rising fuel prices, food prices and mortgage rates combined with job losses and cuts in services - that's what's really important in people's everyday lives. As far as our democracy is concerned, we really don't need to worry about it - it's in safe hands, Irish hands. - Yours, etc,
MARIAN HARKIN MEP,
European Parliament,
Brussels.
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Madam, - Perhaps we should concede to Nicolas Sarkozy that we could hold another referendum on the treaty, if he will agree to organise a similar vote in his own country, on or about the same date. - Yours, etc,
TONY AYTON,
Avondale Lawn,
Avondale,
Waterford.
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Madam, - I refer to your headline "Sarkozy says visit is to understand meaning of No vote" (July 19th).
I ask "what part of NO does Sarkozy not understand?" - Yours, etc,
PATRICK J PYNE,
Castleowen,
Blarney,
Co Cork.
Madam, - Sarkozy is getting very Sarky about the Irish. - Yours, etc,
JOHN GALLAGHER,
The Coombe,
Dublin 8.
