THE DEBATE on the Lisbon Treaty has not got very far because the Government is taking a deceptive approach to the issue, former Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins claimed last night.
Mr Higgins told a debate on the treaty, hosted by the National Union of Journalists, that the people of Ireland were witnessing "a dishonest debate" on a matter that would affect some 500 million Europeans.
He said the reforms of the Lisbon Treaty would put the "capitalist block" that is Europe in a position to "stride on to the world stage alongside the US to begin jockeying for power and influence over the Middle East and other emerging powers."
Mr Higgins added that he hoped to see a more balanced debate on the treaty emerging in the coming months.
Senator Deirdre de Burca (Green Party) said said the ratification of the treaty would strengthen the European Union's capabilities to battle climate change and that the EU could become a world leader in renewable energy.
"Far greater levels of migration are expected from poorer countries due to the effects of climate change and a strong European Union will be important in addressing the global realities we will face," she said.
Ms de Burca said the introduction of an office of the EU president would end the "variability" that occurs in some areas of policy, which were influenced by the current system of the presidency moving between nations.
She also said Ireland has and will continue to benefit greatly economically from its membership of the EU.
"Due to EU membership we are not experiencing the economic turbulence we might have done as a standalone currency."
Carol Fox of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance said the treaty pushed for more military action within the European Union.
Ms Fox questioned how neutral Ireland would remain in the face of pressure from Europe should the treaty be passed, saying that already in the military area "neutral Ireland has signed up for everything that is going: rapid reaction forces, armaments agencies, the lot."
