The Taoiseach continues his series of meetings with EU leaders today with his recent comments on the Forum on Europe being welcomed by its chairman, Senator Maurice Hayes.
The Taoiseach continues his series of meetings with EU leaders today with his recent comments on the Forum on Europe being welcomed by its chairman, Senator Maurice Hayes.
As the Government seeks a declaration from EU member-States to reassure the public about Ireland’s neutrality without seeking a protocol in the Nice Treaty, Senator Hayes today welcomed the Government’s commitment to address concerns expressed at the Forum.
Irish opponents to the Nice Treaty are at the very least seeking the insertion of a protocol on neutrality into the Treaty. This, they say, holds more weight than a declaration as proposed by the Government.
Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South West Mr Sean Crowe said: "A declaration on Irish neutrality is a political move, it will have no legal effect and more importantly has no effect on the Nice Treaty. Sinn Féin is proposing that Irish neutrality be enshrined in the constitution, only then can it be guaranteed."
The Taoiseach’s moves to secure a declaration have also been criticised by the pro-Nice Treaty Labour Party. Its leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, today criticised Mr Ahern for failing to inform the public nor their political representatives about the nature of the declaration being sought.
Mr Quinn said: "Not only has the government failed to engage with the public about their worries on neutrality, but it has also failed to address other concerns that were evident at the time of the referendum ... It seems that Government have learned no lessons from the defeat of the Nice Referendum last year and are intent on repeating the same mistakes all over again."
Mr Ahern is in Finland and Sweden today as part of a series of meetings with EU leaders ahead of a next week’s full summit in Seville.
A second referendum on the Nice Treaty is expected in October and a declaration from EU States at the Summit recognising Ireland’s neutrality is part of the Government strategy to win over the public before the anticipated Autumn vote.
Among the provisions of Nice is a change in administrative and voting procedures said to be necessary for the acceptance of new states into the Union.
Addressing the Irish-Hungarian Economic Association today, Sen Hayes said the Forum was not an advocate for a particular position but said it would listen to "our future partners" and announced that the President of Slovenia, Mr Milan Kucan, would address a session next Tuesday.
Slovenia and Hungary are among the states at the top of the queue to join the EU. Speakers from other accession countries will address the Forum in the Auutumn.
The Seville declaration being sought by the Government is expected to say there is nothing in the Nice Treaty which might compromise Irish neutrality.
It will state that Irish participation in the EU Rapid Reaction Force would require a decision by the Government on a case-by-case basis, parliamentary approval and a UN mandate.
The Government is also seeking a guarantee from each EU member that they have no designs on the State's policy of military neutrality.
Mr Ahern is likely to secure a neutrality declaration as long as difficulties do not arise for other neutral member-states including Finland, Sweden and Austria.
Mr Ahern will issue a statement on how talks are progressing late this afternoon.