“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.

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.”