“Don’t Trust this government – Vote No to Lisbon!” – Carthy

“This is a bad treaty that was negotiated by a bad government and both should be rejected on Friday”; so said South Monaghan Sinn Féin Councillor Matt Carthy this week. In calling for a large turnout and a strong No Vote Cllr. Carthy said: “This Friday the Irish people are being asked to vote on the same treaty, by the same government and they should be given the same answer.” He went on to say, “Fianna Fáil has got it wrong on NAMA, they have got it wrong on Bord Snip and they have got it wrong on Lisbon as well. And their handling of the controversy over former FAS chief Rody Molloy shows just how out of touch they are.”

Cllr. Carthy continued: “The Lisbon Treaty is Fianna Fáil’s Treaty. The Lisbon Treaty contains the same failed right wing policies that brought the economy into recession.

“The key question for voters is; if Fianna Fáil have got is so wrong on NAMA and on Born Snip Nua how can anyone trust them on Lisbon.

“As the party who have presided over the loss of 200,000 jobs in 12 months how can Fianna Fáil's claims that supporting Lisbon will bring jobs and economic recovery be taken seriously.

“Scaremongering about economic ruin is not only a lie it is damaging to our reputation abroad. The Irish and international business community want clarity and certainty. After Lisbon Ireland will still have access to European markets, and we will still be in charge of tax policies. The fact is that economy recovery has to be driven by a change in domestic policies and assisted by change at EU level.

“There was a 14% increase in inward investment in 2008 according to the IDA despite the rejection of the Lisbon Treaty.

“The so-called guarantees on the Lisbon Treaty are worthless. They are the equivalent of a Fianna Fáil election promise. We in Monaghan are more acutely aware than most of the values of assurances from this government or its representatives. We only have to point to our hospital.

“We need a new Treaty, containing new policies, that will enable Ireland and Europe to meet the new challenges which we are facing. On Friday vote for a better deal by vote No to the Lisbon Treaty.”

Sinn Féin Public Meeting on Lisbon Treaty - Party urges Monaghan people to ‘reject this bad deal’

Sinn Féin in County Monaghan have announced details of a public meeting on the Lisbon Treaty. The meeting will take place on Monday next, 21st September at 8.30pm in the Four Seasons Hotel, Monaghan Town.

Confirmed speakers include local TD and the Sinn Féin Dáil Leader, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin; former EU election candidate Tomás Sharkey (Louth County Council); and a representative from UNITE, the second largest trade union in the country which is vigorously campaigning for a ‘No’ vote.

The party has stressed that people of all persuasions are welcome to attend to put questions to the panel and to make any observations of their own.

Chairperson of Monaghan Comhairle Ceanntair Sinn Féin, Matt Carthy, explained that the party felt obliged to hold a meeting to outline the full facts of the treaty. He said “The ‘yes’ side have been attempting to portray this referendum as whether we are for or against continued membership of the European Union. It’s not! They are also trying to suggest that the Lisbon Treaty has something to do with the economy or creating jobs. It doesn’t. The only job the Lisbon Treaty will save is Brian Cowen’s”.

“We are inviting all members of the County Monaghan public to come along and hear the details of the Lisbon Treaty to assist them in making up their own minds. We look forward to a lively debate!”

“Lisbon Treaty = A Bad Deal” - Seán Conlon

Launching Sinn Féin’s Lisbon Treaty referendum poster campaign in County Monaghan this week North Monaghan Councillor Seán Conlon said that “The Lisbon Treaty was a bad deal for Ireland and the EU in 2008. The government has not secured a single change to the Treaty since then. It remains a bad deal for Ireland and the EU. As it is exactly the same Treaty Sinn Féin is urging people to give it the same answer and vote No on October 2nd.”

Cllr. Conlon said:

“Sinn Féin’s poster campaign is aimed at highlighting the content of the Lisbon Treaty and its implications for Ireland and the EU. We want to provoke a debate on and public knowledge about what the Treaty says and does. Unlike many on the Yes side our posters reference the articles of the Treaty on which we are basing our claims.

“Lisbon equals lower wages: In recent years the European Commission has enacted policies and the European Court of Justice has made judgments that have the effect of driving down the cost of wages in a number of EU countries, including the Laval (2007) judgment in Sweden and the Ruffert (2008) case in Germany. While these judgments took place under the existing EU Treaties the Protocol on the Internal Market and Competition contained in the Lisbon Treaty provides both the Commission and the Court with an even stronger mandate to undermine workers pay and conditions.

“Lisbon equals less power: Article 6 changes the way in which key decisions at the Council of Ministers are taken. The changes would see Irelands voting strength reduced to 0.8% while German’s would increase to 17% and Britain’s would increase to 12%. The Council is where states are meant to meet as equals. The Lisbon Treaty significantly reduces Ireland’s strength on this important body.

“Lisbon equals more military spending: Article 25 and 28 contain four separate obligations on military spending. Article 28(c)(3) states ‘Member States shall make civilian and military capabilities available to the Union for the implementation of the common security and defence policy.’ The same article also states ‘member states shall undertake progressively to improve their military capabilities’.

“In addition Article 25b(d)(3) states ‘The Council shall adopt a decision establishing the specific procedures for guaranteeing rapid access to appropriations in the Union budget for urgent financing of initiatives in the framework of the common foreign and security policy.’ While Article 25(d)(3)(TEU) states Preparatory activities... which are not charged to the Union budget shall be financed by a start-up fund made up of Member State’s contributions....”

“While the overall increase in expenditure arising from these new obligations will be a matter for the Government there is no doubt that they will lead to increased military spending in the future.

“Lisbon equals crushing family farms: The European Commission has for many years been pursuing an agenda of aggressively promoting free trade over fair trade. A series of EU Trade Commissioners from Pascal Lammy, followed by Peter Mandelson and now Catherine Ashton have been promoting an agenda at the WTO that would be devastating for Irish and European family farms and rural communities. Article 188, gives the Commission power to initiate and conduct negotiations including international trade agreements, makes Qualified Majority Voting the general rule in the conclusion of such trade agreement, and effectively end the Irish government’s veto on ‘mixed trade deals’ While Article 2 (b) gives the EU exclusive competence over commercial policy, including the negotiating of international trade agreements. Taken together these articles effectively removes the current Irish government veto on mixed international trade agreements making it easier for the European Commission to impose its free trade over fair trade agenda in future international trade talks.

“Taken together articles 6, 28, and 188 along with the Protocol on the Internal Market and Competition will equal lower wages, less power, increased military spending and crushing family farms. These are just four of the many articles that make the Lisbon Treaty a bad deal for Ireland and the EU.

“On October 2 Sinn Féin is urging people to reject this bad deal and vote for a better Europe and a fairer Ireland” Cllr. Conlon stated.

Councillor Conlon has urged people to attend the public meeting on the implications of the Lisbon Treaty organised by Sinn Fein which will be held this Monday, 21st September, at 8.30pm in the Four Seasons Hotel, Monaghan Town. He said people of all persuasions were welcome to attend and to air their comments or ask questions.

Pat Treanor claims Workers rights are being eroded at Grove Turkeys

Clones area Sinn Féin Councillor, Pat Treanor, has called on management at Grove Turkeys to explain the drastic cut in pay and conditions of workers employed at the Smithboro’ plant.

Accusing some employers in the country, including Grove Turkeys, of using the economic downturn to strip workers of hard won conditions and pay, Cllr. Treanor says that he has been contacted by former Grove workers who have been offered minimum rates of pay and contract employment just two weeks after these same workers received their redundancy payments.

Pointing out that workers are being left with no option but to accept employment on these reduced terms, Councillor Treanor said:

“Former workers at Grove Turkeys that I have spoken to are very angry that they were made redundant when there clearly was plenty of work for them at the factory. Since January 2008, when Grove announced a rationalisation plan involving reducing their workforce from around 200 to 70, these workers were left in a terrible situation by the parent company (Kerry Foods).

In addition to 130 workers and their families facing the dole, 85 farmers producing turkeys had to make alternative arrangements.

The workers were initially laid off for nine weeks. They were then brought back for two weeks before being laid off again. Some were offered work for the Christmas market before being let go a third time. They were brought back for a number of three-day-weeks.

The company then proposed to pay redundancy only at the part-time working rate, but were forced to pay the basic statutory two weeks per year worked.

Just two weeks after receiving these payments, some have again been offered work at the factory, this time under a contractor and at a reduced rate of €8.65/hr.

“This is a scandalous way of treating men and women workers who have given the best years of their working lives to Kerry Foods and Grove Turkeys,” said Councillor Treanor.

“Needless to say, there are many people who will take whatever work is available in the current economic climate, even at minimum pay rates. Grove management knows this and it is a dreadful reflection on the company that cynical advantage is being taken of people’s genuine desire to work.

“The practice of stripping workers of their hard-won conditions and pay must be challenged and reversed” the Sinn Féin councillor concluded.

Carthy says Green Party are using window dressing to save face

South Monaghan Sinn Féin Councillor, Matt Carthy, this week described as “pathetic” the Green Party’s attempts to make NAMA acceptable. He said the junior government party is engaged in a window dressing exercise to save face and that if they went before the people in an election they would be decimated because of their support for the FF plan to bail out greedy speculators and corrupt bankers.

Cllr. Carthy said:

“NAMA will not work. It will not fix our banking crisis. It is fundamentally flawed because it will not clean out the banking management and it will not make banks lend again. It is a shameful attempt to legalise the corruption of the government, developers and the banks over the last decade.

“The Green Party’s attempts to make NAMA acceptable are pathetic. The party is window dressing in an attempt to save face. They will not bring this government down even though they know it’s the right thing to do, because they are worried about their own political careers. They know if they went before the electorate right now they would be decimated because of their support for the FF plan to bail out greedy speculators and corrupt bankers.

“I am extremely pleased with Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin’s assertion that Sinn Féin will not support NAMA, no matter how many amendments are made to it. In my view only nationalisation will get our banking system up and running again. Those who took a gamble on banks have to take the blow now, not the taxpayer.”

For a Fairer Ireland and a Better Europe Vote ‘No’ says Uí Mhurchadha

Speaking as Sinn Féin in County Monaghan stepped up their campaign against the Lisbon Treaty Monaghan Town Councillor Pádraigín Uí Mhurchadha has urged voters to reject the Lisbon Treaty “in order to build a Fairer Ireland and a Better Europe”.
Cllr. Uí Mhurchadha said:
“Throughout the referendum campaign Sinn Féin has identified article after article of the Lisbon Treaty that will have negative consequences for this member state and our European neighbours.
“This is exactly the same treaty that citizens rejected last year.
“Ireland and Europe can and must do better. Sinn Féin wants Ireland to continue to play a strong and positive role in the future development of the European Union.
“We seek a new Treaty that promotes real democracy, protects workers’ rights and public services, does not undermine this state’s neutrality and maintains the voice of smaller states, including Ireland, at the Commission and Council tables.
“On 2nd October voters have a choice — do we accept a bad deal or do we once again vote for a better deal for Ireland and for Europe?
“A fairer Ireland and a better Europe are possible. Vote ‘No’ on October 2nd” Cllr. Uí Mhurchadha concluded.

“80 Cavan/Monaghan primary schools under threat” – Ó Caoláin

Cavan-Monaghan Deputy and Sinn Féin Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has warned that 80 schools with fewer than 100 pupils in the two counties are under threat from the proposals on education in the McCarthy Report. The so-called ‘Bord Snip Nua’ recommends the closure or merging schools of under 100 pupils, a move Ó Caoláin said would “devastate rural Cavan and Monaghan”.

Deputy Ó Caoláin said:

“The McCarthy report recommends the shutting down or merging of all schools with 100 pupils or less, resulting in the laying off of around 500 teachers. In Counties Cavan and Monaghan this would mean the closure or merging of 80 schools.

“This proposal would devastate rural Ireland, including rural Cavan and Monaghan. The primary school is the heart of every small community. Closures and mergers on this scale will have a huge impact. As well as causing major inconvenience to families, especially given our inadequate school transport system, this move would mean further rural decline, following the closure of local post offices and small retailers.

“The Government has refused to rule out this McCarthy recommendation and if it is allowed to go ahead in the Budget it will see the death of rural schools, larger class sizes, poorer educational standards, redundancy for teachers and higher transport costs.

“The Government’s crazy NAMA plan will cost every man, woman and child €15,000 to bail out bankers and property speculators. This is being given priority over the education of our children.

“We in Sinn Féin will fight tooth and nail to protect our local schools and will campaign vigorously against these and all other education cuts.”

Ireland’s Interests Best Served by No Vote – Crowe

Speaking at a Sinn Féin meeting in Castleblayney this week local councillor, Jackie Crowe said that Ireland’s interests were best served by voting No to the Lisbon Treaty on October 2nd.
Cllr. Crowe said: “Sinn Féin believes that Irelands place is at the heart of Europe. Our approach to the EU is to support those proposals that are in Ireland’s interests and to oppose and campaign to change those that are not.
“Our European agenda is positive and progressive. We are active participants in a European wide movement of parties and people whose aim is to create a more democratic and people centered European Union that promotes workers rights and public services, supports rural communities and plays a constructive role on the International stage consistent with this state’s neutral status.
“In June last year the people, including the majority of Monaghan voters, rejected the Lisbon Treaty. They did so because they believed that is was a bad Treaty and because they wanted for a better deal for Ireland and Europe.
“The result presented the Dublin government with a strong mandate to negotiate a better Treaty.
“At the time Sinn Féin presented Brian Cowen with very detailed proposals as to how we felt the electorate’s concerns could be dealt with.
“What did the government do? Just like their mismanagement of the economy, they prevaricated, sat on their hands and did nothing.
“As a result they have not secured a single change to the text of the Lisbon Treaty. On October 2nd we will be voting on exactly the same treaty as we did last year.
“The Governments claims of having addressed the concerns of the electorate are entirely false.
“We will still lose our Commissioner, only now in 2014 instead of 2009. Our neutrality will still be undermined. Workers rights and public services will still come under attack. And tax harmonisation will still be made easier.

“There are three weeks left in the campaign. For our part the fact that exactly the same Treaty is being placed before the people means that we should give the same answer.
“A better deal is still possible, but only if we reject the Lisbon Treaty on October 2.”

Do we really want a ‘Ryanair Europe? If Not then Vote NO to Lisbon says Carthy

Speaking after Ryanair Chief Michael O’Leary’s came out in support of the Lisbon Treaty, South Monaghan Sinn Féin Councillor, Matt Carthy, has said that “voters need to ask themselves, do we really want a Ryanair Europe?”

Cllr. Carthy said:

“It comes as no surprise that the man behind the low-cost airline should support the Lisbon Treaty.

“The Ryanair business model has been built on the back of low pay, poor working conditions, and hidden costs to the consumer.

“Whatever ones view of this model for running an airline, there is no doubt in my mind that it is not the way to run the European economy.

“Michael O’Leary supports the Lisbon Treaty because it promotes a Ryanair approach the economy, facilitating a race to the bottom in workers wages and conditions.

“Ryanair opposes trade unions and internationally-recognised labour standards. The Lisbon Treaty facilitates the undermining of collective bargaining, established wage agreements and workers’ rights secured over a century of struggle. The Lisbon Treaty’s Protocol on the Internal Market and Competition provides the EU with a strengthened mandate to remove all ‘distortions to competition’. For Michael O’Leary and the right wing politicians who wrote and support the Lisbon Treaty such ‘distortions’ involve decent wages, good working conditions and consumer protections.

“The question we all have to ask ourselves is should we run our countries or indeed the EU like a low-budget airline? Imagine a Ryanair primary school or a Ryanair hospital.

“That’s not the kind of EU Sinn Féin wants to see and I don’t believe it’s the kind of EU that the majority of the electorate want to see either. In order to prevent it then we must secure a decisive NO vote on October 2nd.”

Carthy says that Aghavilla Road Closure is ‘a non-runner’

South Monaghan Sinn Féin Councillor, Matt Carthy, has said that he believes that the council will have to find an alternative way to improve road safety on the N2 at Aghavilla, north of Carrickmacross, other than the proposed Creevy Road Closure.

Cllr. Carthy said that if public consultation was to mean anything then the large amount of submissions against the proposed road closure must be taken into account.

He said: “Monaghan County Council received 67 submissions in response to the proposal to close the Creevy Road off the N2 almost all of which were opposed to the suggestion. It is my view that the road closure is therefore now a non-runner. Any other outcome would simply undermine the public consultation exercise.

“I, and other councillors, had expressed some concerns about the proposal to close this road when it was first mooted but we agreed to allow the public to have their say. Those people who live in the area and who use the road on a daily basis have spoken and they should be listened to.

“Obviously there is a road safety issue at Aghavilla that must be addressed. But, Monaghan County Council and the NRA will need to find an alternative way to address it. I have no doubt that a way to improve the safety for motorists without closing the road can be found if the will is there.”

Sinn Féin Highlight impact of Education Cuts on Monaghan schools

Over 50 Sinn Féin members and supporters, including local teachers, attended a protest in Monaghan town last Saturday to highlight the devastating impact that government cuts will have on primary and secondary schools in the county. Protestors gathered at the Courthouse in the county town and held placards stating: “Stop Education Cuts” and “Leave Our Schools Alone”. Members also distributed leaflets outlining Sinn Féin’s view that “every euro spent on the banks is a euro taken away from our children’s education”.

Speaking following the protest Clones area Councillor and former chairperson of County Monaghan VEC, Pat Treanor, said that County Monaghan schools were facing hard times ahead as cuts to education hit home.

Cllr. Treanor said:

“Monaghan pupils heading back to school this week after their summer break will have began to see the reality of the cuts that have been have been a hot topic of debate over the last number of months. Pupils have found themselves in larger classes, with limited resources and sometimes in cramped accommodation.

“Throughout County Monaghan primary and secondary schools have lost mainstream teachers and classes for children with special educational needs. This has obviously meant that good teachers have lost their jobs while other, younger teachers, are finding it difficult to get employment. In the medium term this will have a huge impact on Monaghan schools, the quality of learning and the well-being of vulnerable children.

“Many parents will be beginning to see the real costs of the Fianna Fáil cuts with the cost of sending children to school continuing to rise and more and more parents are finding themselves under immense pressure to find the money needed.

“Parents will be forced to fundraise more for the upkeep of their children’s’ school as the money is simply not there. The reality is that many parents simply cannot afford to do this. Parents are losing their back to school allowances and cuts in child benefit are looming. Many people that I have spoken to in County Monaghan have paid upwards of €800 on uniforms, school transport fees and books. This is nothing short of a scandal.

“Our children must not be made scapegoats for the reckless behaviour of this government and their cronies the bankers and developers. It’s time for us to fight back and that is what the Sinn Féin campaign ‘Leave our schools alone’ is all about. We will continue to highlight the very negative impact that Fianna Fáil cuts are having on our children’s education. This may well mean more protests in this county as we will ensure that local Fianna Fáil representatives cannot wash their hands from this issue as it is their party that is implementing these devastating cutbacks” Cllr. Treanor concluded.

Consequences of a Yes vote bad for Ireland economically and politically - Ó Caoláin

Sinn Féin Dail leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has said today that the “consequences of a Yes vote in next months Lisbon Treaty referendum will be bad for Ireland economically and politically.”
Deputy Ó Caolain said:
“In recent days we have heard voices on the Yes side of the Lisbon Treaty debate talk up the prospect of negative consequences of a second no vote. The usual claims of losing inward investment and jobs and undermining our position in Europe are once again being repeated ad nauseam.
“All of these claims were made during the last referendum campaign and have been proved false. They are nothing more than the politics of fear designed to mislead and frighten people into supporting the Lisbon Treaty.
“On inward investment, in the 12 months since the last referendum inward investment has actually increased. In July of this year IDA CEO Barry O'Leary said: "It should be noted that 2008 saw a 14 per cent increase in foreign direct investment (FDI) on the previous year bringing the total number of FDI investments in 2008 to 130."
“On jobs, the primary cause of job losses since June 2008 has been the Fianna Fail-PD-Green Party mismanagement of the economy. It is the right wing economic policies pursued by this government that have caused the economic crisis. These same right wing policies are contained in the Lisbon Treaty. If ratified, this Treaty will make the economic crisis worse not better.
“The same is true of our position in Europe. If ratified the Lisbon Treaty will see Ireland and other smaller member states lose significantly at the Council of Ministers, with our voting strength dropping by more than 50% while larger states will increase their voting strength by more than 50%. And despite claims by the government to have secured an Irish Commissioner, again, if ratified, the Lisbon Treaty proposal for the reduction of the Commission will come into force from 2014 at which point we will lose our Commissioner for 5 out of every 15 years.
“The consequences of a Yes vote will cost Ireland dearly, economically and politically. It will damage our economy and reduce our power and influence in the EU.
“A No vote will provide a real opportunity for a new debate about the future of Europe and Irelands place within it. It will allow Ireland, in real partnership with our EU counterparts, to develop new policies and new approaches to tackle the pressing social and economic problems of our time.”