MORE THAN 100 people braved stormy weather in Co Kerry last night to travel to Tralee's Brandon Hotel for a debate on the Lisbon Treaty hosted by the National Forum on Europe.
Members of Sinn Féin, Republican Sinn Féin, the Green Party, the People Before Profit Alliance, Libertas and the National Platform, as well as a group of fishermen and farmers, were among those who spoke during the two-hour debate.
Two local Sinn Féin councillors were the only elected representatives in the audience.
Independent chairman of the forum Maurice Hayes urged people to avail of the summary guides to understand "the lengthy and complex document" that was the treaty.
In an address to the forum, Alan Dukes, former leader of Fine Gael, said the treaty was no different to any others in that every other European treaty had been "a lengthy, complex document". However it could have been "in a nicer form".
He said Europe in its 50 years of union had had a positive influence on the lives of people, had shown remarkable capacity to adapt and so had increased its member states. Everything it did was to serve its member states.
However, Martin Ferris, Sinn Féin TD for Kerry North, said the treaty was "a step too far", adding that most people could not understand it.
He said the EU had not been all positive. Brazilian beef imports were allowed and the fishing industry had been "sold out". Bog- cutting was now banned and planning restrictions in rural Ireland had been driven by the EU.
However, he urged the audience, who were inclined to interrupt to voice their opposition to the treaty, to "campaign positively, not negatively".
David Grey of the Green Party was one of a number of contributors to raise the question of how the treaty might affect patent laws and open the way for large corporations to grow genetically-modified foods affecting biodiversity in Ireland.
Several speakers said the Republic was under threat by the growing power of Europe.
Mr Dukes said claims that Ireland was one of the only republics in Europe were wrong. Some 22 of the 27 member states were republics "so let's not give ourselves ideas".
Patrick Fitzgerald, a transition- year student, told this reporter he supported Europe. People had heard more about the US election than about the Lisbon Treaty.