Irish Independent Editorial!!

niamherz88

The following is an editorial printed in todays sundays independent.

IN the few days that remain before the country goes to the polls, a fundamental point about the Lisbon Treaty will have to be sorted out. That is, what would happen in the event of a 'No' vote? Former EU Commissioner Peter Sutherland touched on this point yesterday when he struggled to find words to express his frustration and concern.
People just don't seem to understand the danger, he finally said.

Those who oppose the Treaty tell us that this is scaremongering and assure us that the 26 governments who are approving the Treaty, representatives of hundreds of millions, will simply sigh and accept Ireland's decision.

Life will go on as before, using the same old structures and procedures that worked for a much smaller union.

Or perhaps, they say, a new treaty could be negotiated which would better suit Libertas, or Coir, or Sinn Fein, or Jim Corr.

At best, a 'No' vote next Thursday would seriously reduce Ireland's status in Europe.

Our ability to address important economic matters such as the financing of CAP would be weakened.

Matters which could be detrimental to Ireland, and which had been dealt with by Ireland's representatives over years of negotiation, will be put back on the table by countries pursuing their own interests.

The notion that the people of Europe would applaud an Irish rejection of the Lisbon Treaty is dangerous nonsense and it is revealed as a lie by reports of widespread concern in the EU at the news that the rejection lobby appears to hold the lead.


END OF ARTICLE!!

I personally feel this is utter tripe. Another attempt by the YES brigade to use scare tactics to persuade the Irish electorate. How can it be democratic for the political elite in Europe to ostracise Ireland from political debates and EU affaires simply because the people of the only true EU democratic nation asserted their right to independence and voted NO. This would not be DEMOCRACY and if that would be the type of Europe which would emerge following a NO vote then it is my personal opinion that we would be better out of it.

Whats your opinion on this??

is_that_so

They do have a point. Like everyone else they are guessing what the effect will be. In fact of all the "truths" about this vote the real unknown is the long-term effect of the No vote. No-one in either in the Yes or No camp can say for certainty what will happen.

sink

He's dead right. Ireland as a small voting percentage in the council and the parliament and yet we've had a major influence on the EU. The reason being we are very adept at building coalitions and convincing other states to back us up. We rely on good will and admiration. The negotiations surrounding the Lisbon treaty have been going on for over 6 years now and everyone is tired and just want to see it ratified so they can get back to business. It will be a major embarrassment for the government and opposition parties (besides Sinn Fein who are an embarrassment anyway) if the treaty doesn't pass, especially when the main no side arguments are already copperfastend tightly by the treaty. There is really nothing left to negotiate and no one knows exactly what will happen if there is a no vote, but no one in government in Ireland or the EU can see anything positive happening.