A significant 2/1 majority, on a higher turnout, passed the Lisbon Treaty overturning the decision of June 2008. It is clear that the economic crisis served to shift opinion across the board to a yes vote because people felt that passing the Treaty might boost Ireland’s prospects for economic recovery.
The intervention of the European Commission into the debate on Lisbon in Ireland has become yet more brazen. The sight of Antonio Tanjani on a whistle-stop tour of the country with Michael O'Leary campaigning for a Yes vote has removed any remaining shred of impartiality. That the European Commission would interfere in the debate in Ireland in this manner is a disgrace. It is a ploy aimed at increasing the pressure on the Irish people to vote Yes.
Eamon Gilmore has claimed that left wing opponents of the Lisbon treaty are 'oportunistic' and 'putting the economy and jobs at risk'. It seems he lives in an upside down world.
Many issues have come up so far in the Lisbon debate, some very relevant, some less so. The key issues the Socialist Party have been raising so far are workers rights, public services and miltarisation. Elsewhere Joe Higgins has looked at the issue of workers' rights and public services. Here, he goes into precisely how Lisbon boosts the armaments industry and is another step towards a militarised EU.
Joe Higgins went head to head with former supreme court judge Donal Barrington on Pat Kenny’s show on RTE Radio 1 yesterday in a debate on Lisbon and how it pushes privatisation, the race to the bottom and militarisation. Listen to it here.
Joe Higgins MEP speaking at a Press Conference at the European Parliament in Strasbourg today criticised the interference of the European Commission in the Lisbon Treaty debate in Ireland and the campaign of fear of the Irish government. Here we republish Joe's statement.
Mr Blair Horan, General Secretary of the Civil and Public Services Union elevated a minor textual error in a quote from the Charter of Fundamental Rights into a slanderous allegation that Joe Higgins MEP ‘falsified’ and ‘forged’ the Charter of Fundamental Rights in order ‘to suit his purpose.’
Mr Blair Horan, Secretary of the Pro Lisbon Treaty Charter Group which includes some trade union leaders, issued a press statement today entitled: ”Joe Higgins MEP has stooped to falsifing(sic) the Charter.”
The Socialist Party's Lisbon Leaflet is now available online. Simply click the image above to flick through it, download a PDF of it,or print it out or email it to a friend.
Today at a press conference in the Davenport Hotel prominent Socialist Party spokepeople, accompanied by strike leaders from Coca Cola and MTL Dockworkers, laid out their opposition to the Lisbon Treaty, and explained how the treaty would undermine workers' rights.
