Firstly, the Lisbon Treaty we are being asked to vote on is exactly the same treaty the Irish electorate rejected in 2008 and also the Dutch and the French in 2005. The Lisbon Treaty is so called because of the failure to gain agreement to name it a European Constitution, hence the word treaty. Why is it before us again?
The simple reason is that in the view of the European leaders we Irish got it wrong - so much for democracy. Attempts have been made by government officials and the media to explain why the Irish people voted No. The issues, however, in relation to the loss of a commissioner, tax harmonisation, possible introduction of abortion and euthanasia, safeguarding of Irish neutrality are not the only concerns.
The fact is that voting in a democracy is necessarily a private affair - to safeguard a citizen’s democratic right and also prevent interference by the state or those with vested interests. Therefore, nobody can really assume to comprehend the multitude of reasons for voting No by the Irish electorate. What is important is that the outcome of a democratic referendum must by law be respected and accepted.
That is the essence of a democracy. The decision to hold a second referendum on the Lisbon Treaty is essentially bullying by our own Government and European leaders, who quite clearly consider Ireland not to be an equal but at best a very lowly dominion.
If the Treaty is passed it will further erode the power of the Dail to legislate for the Irish people in their best interests – with economic, military and social policies emanating from the European Union in an additional 34 areas of legislation where unanimity voting will be replaced by majority voting. There is no acknowledgment by those advocating a Yes vote or indeed any honest debate on the ceding of Irish sovereignty whereby the Irish Constitution will be superseded by the European Court of Justice.
The Lisbon Treaty amends all previous EU treaties, and since it is self amending, it effectively removes any opportunity for the Irish people to hold future referenda on Treaty matters. This gives Government leaders of the day the power, therefore, to vote with their European counterparts to adopt policies without reverting directly to the Irish electorate, including decisions to replace unanimity by majority voting in additional legislative areas.
The Lisbon Treaty effectively creates a Federal Europe in all but name. It will enhance the voting power of larger countries such as France, Germany, Italy and Britain, given that the new weighting will be determined by population size. This will clearly place Ireland at a disadvantage.
The Lisbon Treaty is lauded as good for the worker. This is not evident from recent rulings by the European Court of Justice in both the Laval, Viking and Rüffert cases, which gave rulings that companies from another EU state are not bound by collective wage agreements and, further, actually prohibits industrial action against these companies. Such rulings dispel the myth of protection for workers’ rights and will of itself lead to increased racism.
The Lisbon Treaty incorporates a clause that commits Ireland for the first time in its history to increase its military capabilities. This does not sit well with our stated constitutional policy, albeit eroded by our Government, in relation to neutrality. Furthermore, one wonders why no such clause exists in the Treaty that commits member states similarly to increase spending in relation to health or education.
The rights set out in the "Charter of Fundamental Rights" can be limited if they do not meet “objectives of general interest recognised by the Union.” This endangers our existing rights, which could be withheld if they conflicted with the demands of “the EU internal market.”
The European Court of Justice, which is notorious for putting the interests of big business before people, would have the power to decide our rights in future.
I do not believe that in Voting No to the Lisbon Treaty I am not a good European. However, I am first and foremost an Irish citizen and prefer to continue to be one. I will not and cannot vote for a Treaty that will effectively make me a European citizen while at the same time not knowing what that entails.
In conclusion, the creation of a European State that supersedes national states is a move too far. I would prefer to be governed by an Irish Dail, whose members are elected by me and accountable to me rather than unelected bureaucrats in Europe.
I believe our political leaders are failing the Irish people and it is now time to set aside the Lisbon Treaty and commence the real debate on whether Irish people want to give up their sovereignty so painfully and long fought for in order to be part of a European super state, which will have legal status with an unelected people’s President, who will speak on behalf of 500 million people.
Finally, I believe that my No vote is totally in accordance with 60 per cent of my electorate who voted No last time round.
