Ó Caoláin accepts the people’s verdict and congratulates stoic Cavan Monaghan - highest ‘No’ vote across all 43 constituencies

“Sinn Féin acknowledges and accepts the people’s verdict on this occasion. Unlike this government we will not be calling for a further referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. However, we must remain vigilant as a people both of the European Union’s decision makers in the Commission and Council of Ministers and of our own elected representatives’ contributions and voting positions within the European Parliament.

“Brian Cowen and his Fianna Fáil and Green Party government should take no solace from the result of this Lisbon Treaty Referendum. They and their ‘Yes’ side supporters in Fine Gael and Labour now have to deliver. There is an onus, an obligation, on these ‘Yes’ parties to demonstrate that their arguments had substance – that there will be economic recovery and real jobs created as a consequence of its endorsement by a significant section of the Irish electorate.

“I, for one, do not believe a word of it. The only job that has been saved is Brian Cowen’s and just a couple of weeks back the European Commission approved a Polish government proposal to grant aid, to the tune of €54.5m, the relocation from Ireland of 1,900 jobs in the IT sector.

“There is something rotten at the core of this European project and Irish voices are not being heard” stated Deputy Ó Caoláin.

Cavan Monaghan – highest ‘No’

“I wish to congratulate the Sinn Féin organisation throughout Cavan and Monaghan for the heroic campaign they mounted over recent weeks.

“It was, with hindsight, a David and Goliath contest. The entire weight of the political, business and media establishment was pitted against the ‘No’ side. The ‘Yes Coalition’ spent an unprecedented amount of money, including public monies, in creating a climate of fear. They preyed on people’s concerns about their jobs and the future of the economy – problems which this government created.

“And so many stood firm.

“The Cavan Monaghan constituency recorded the highest ‘No’ vote of all 43 constituencies across the state. 21,301 voters throughout Cavan and Monaghan rejected the Lisbon Treaty for a second time. Co. Mayo, the home constituency of Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, came second with 21,132 and Co. Wexford took third place honours on the ‘No’ side with 21,067.

“While only the two Donegal constituencies recorded an overall ‘No’ majority, the people of Monaghan town and it’s added area, sixteen ballot boxes in total, also recorded a ‘No’ majority, as did the electors in Knocknagrave, in Knockatallon and in Tyholland.

“So too did the voters in Ballybay and in other polling areas across both counties, with neck and neck results in many others.

Referenda

“The Referendum process, as a distinct element of our democratic system, has been seriously damaged by this government. In the course of my campaigning over recent weeks I met dozens of people who had voted ‘No’ to Lisbon in 2008 and who were adamant they would not go out a second time. In their words – ‘Government will keep coming back until they get their way’ – while others said – ‘we don’t count’. Some, understandably, have lost heart with the referendum process if not with the democratic process in its entirety.

“The answer I received on Saturday when voicing this concern on RTE television was telling in itself. “There will be no more such referenda for many years” was the assertion of the ‘Yes’ proponents, something we on the ‘No’ side had warned about throughout the debate.

Campaign

“Looking back over these past several weeks I can state with confidence and with pride that we in Sinn Féin put up a fair and strong challenge to all the other political parties in the ‘Yes Coalition’. We stuck to the facts regarding the Lisbon Treaty and we addressed the real issues of concern to the Irish people.

“While this government and their ‘Yes Coalition’ partners, and their federalist friends in Europe, now have what they wanted, the fact remains that the economy has to be put right, that public services and workers’ rights, Irish neutrality and the interests of rural Ireland all have to be cherished, defended and nurtured now more than ever.

“Government moves to introduce NAMA and to adopt all or even many of the McCarthy Report (Bord Snip Nua) recommendations must be resisted. These are deeply unpopular proposals for which this government has no mandate.

“I challenge Brian Cowen, in the wake of his Lisbon II Referendum success, to put his proposals before the people, either in a further referendum or better still, in a General Election before Christmas. Let the people decide. Let the people have the chance to show you and your fellow travellers exactly where they stand” concluded the Sinn Féin Dáil Leader.

“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.

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.

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.”

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.”

Fianna Fáil ignoring the will of people on Lisbon

Sinn Fein Dáil leader Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has today rejected Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin’s claim that that the Lisbon Treaty referendum “represents a new proposal and respects the will of Irish people”. The Cavan-Monaghan TD said the decision to “put exactly the same Treaty to the people again proved that Fianna Fáil has little regard for the will of the people.

Deputy Ó Caoláin said:

“Almost 900,000 people said No to the Lisbon Treaty in June 2008. Since then the government has failed to secure a single change to the text of the Treaty. The so-called legally binding guarantees do not alter the text of the treaty or its implications for Ireland or the EU.

“The government’s decision to put exactly the same Treaty to the people again proves that they have little regard for the will of the people

“To suggest that the so called guarantees represent any kind of meaningful response to the concerns of the electorate is simply untrue.

“Contrary to Minister Martin’s claim the government has not secured a permanent Commissioner for every country including Ireland. Rather they have secured a temporary stay of execution. The Lisbon Treaty proposal to reduce the size of the Commission remains and if the Treaty is ratified it is my firm belief that this provision will be implemented in 2014.

“The concerns of the Irish electorate and the millions of Europeans who oppose this Treaty can only be addressed if the Lisbon Treaty is defeated and a new and better Treaty is negotiated.”

Seán Conlon calls for Honest and mature debate on Lisbon Treaty

North Monaghan Councillor Seán Conlon has this week called for an “honest and mature debate” on the Lisbon Treaty in the coming weeks. The Sinn Féin representative also urged people to “read the treaty” before they decide which way to vote on October 2nd.
Cllr. Conlon said:

“It is vital that people are aware of the contents of the Lisbon Treaty so that they can then make an informed judgement. For example in the past week Fianna Fáil have claimed that the issue of neutrality is ‘settled’. This is simply not the case.
“Article 28 of the Lisbon Treaty contains a number of far reaching measures all of which affect our neutrality. It states for the first time that the EU ‘shall have a common defence’. It significantly expands the range of permissible military missions beyond peacekeeping and humanitarian tasks. It further strengthens the EU’s links with NATO. It provides for additional funding mechanisms and obligations for the European Defence Agency. It places a mutual defence obligation on all member states. And it enables small groups of member states to develop mini military alliances within the EU, which while not requiring the active participation of all member states, could no the less carry out military actions in the name of the EU, utilizing its resources.
“The so called legally binding guarantees on neutrality that some on the ‘yes’ side refer to simply tell us what we already knew, namely that Irish troops can only be sent abroad with the consent of the Government and Oireachtas. Sinn Fein never disputed this claim.
“However military neutrality is about much more than what a country does with its troops. The Lisbon Treaty if ratified will significantly advance the development of single foreign and defence policies for the EU, which in turn will have a profound affect on our neutrality. It is wrong to suggest otherwise.”

“This is just another example as to why people should inform themselves about the content of the treaty so that they cannot be duped by any side.
“Sinn Fein is calling on both the yes and no sides to engage in an open, honest and mature debate. Neither side is served by exaggerated or unfounded claims. Nor is either side served by scaremongering.
“What is needed is a serious debate about the content of the Treaty and its implications for Ireland and the EU.

“Sinn Fein is committed to such a debate. Our approach will be to shine a light on the Treaty text and attempt to explain its meaning and implications.
“I am also urging the electorate to read the Treaty for themselves before they decide how to vote on October 2. Despite being a complex legal document, many of its sections are perfectly understandable to the lay reader.
“This treaty will significantly alter the shape and direction of the EU for decades to come. It is vital that the general public are engaged in the debate and feel sufficiently informed to vote on October 2nd. All protagonists in the debate, politicians, civic society, the government and the media have a responsibility in this regard. An honest and mature debate will lead to a more informed public and an increased turnout.”