EIRE: LISBON - IRISH GOVERNMENT URGED TO REBUFF EU PRESSURE FOR A FURTHER VOTE

- Rapport -

The General Secretary of the Celtic League has once again written to the Irish government urging that the outcome of the Lisbon Treaty referendum should be respected and that any

Cathal Ó Luain Par Celtic League le 12/10/08 15:09

The General Secretary of the Celtic League has once again written to the Irish government urging that the outcome of the Lisbon Treaty referendum should be respected and that any attempts by EU institutions to try and compromise the wish of the Irish people should be rebuffed (see below):

"Minister for Foreign Affairs

Dear Minister Micheal Martin

Lisbon Treaty

We were encouraged to hear at the European Parliament's Constitutional Affairs Committee (AFCO) on Monday (6th October 2008), that you resisted pressure to outline a concrete solution to what has become dubbed the 'Irish problem'. However, we were disappointed that you did not make it clear to Committee members that there could be no second referendum, on the same Lisbon Treaty text, without jeopardizing the integrity of your Government and the Irish people.

Suggestions that a second referendum could possibly take place before the European elections in 2009 are, in our opinion, ludicrous and would make the Irish people look foolish indeed. As I wrote in a letter to you on 03/08/08 (Ref: EU080140):

"...it is our belief that the decision of the people of the Irish Republic should be upheld and that the Irish No is an opportunity to reform the text of the Treaty along democratic lines."

We appreciate that there is much pressure directed at your Government to hold a second referendum on the issue, but if you fully respect the vote of the Irish people, as your Government have claimed, then it must be publicly acknowledged that there can be no re run. A "step-by-step" approach as you advocated at the AFCO meeting on Monday, shows to us that the Irish Government is still undecided on what to do.

The EU summit in December 2008 is an opportunity for the Irish Government to protect the rights not only of its citizens, but the other peoples of the Celtic nations who have no voice on the issue. As Margot Wallstrom, Vice-President of the European Comission said on Monday:

"The No vote in Ireland was an answer, but not a solution."

The only reasonable solution, for the sake of our democratic futures in Europe, is for the Irish Government to request that the EU "review the whole process and direction of the European Community to ensure that a truly democratic Europe which respects the rights of its citizens and workers is proposed."

This was the opinion of delegates at our AGM in Dublin in August 2008, where the following resolution was passed:

"This AGM welcomes the Irish NO vote on the Lisbon Referendum, and commends the Irish Branch for its part in opposing the Lisbon Treaty and supporting a NO vote. We call on the EU leaders to respect the Irish decision, realise that the Lisbon Treaty is dead and review the whole process and direction of the European Community to ensure that a truly democratic Europe which respects the rights of its citizens and workers is proposed."

We look forward to strong and forthright leadership from the Irish Government on this issue, as the only independent Celtic country able to do so at this time.

Yours sincerely

Rhisiart Tal-e-bot General Secretary Celtic League

cc Brian Cowen, Taoiseach"

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