Head of EU office denies treaty debate interference

The head of the EU's Dublin office has rejected claims by opponents of the Lisbon Treaty that he is interfering illegally in the debate.

Martin Territt denied that he was campaigning for a Yes vote for the treaty, but confirmed that he has been addressing meetings of county councillors around the country on the issue.

Anthony Coughlan, chairman of the National Platform, had earlier criticised Mr Territt for addressing a meeting of the Dublin Regional Authority last night on the treaty.

He said this was a clear indication of the commission's intention to interfere in the referendum decision to be taken by the Irish people this year.

Mr Territt said he was not taking sides in the debate, and was merely informing councillors, at their invitation, of the process.

"I'm not saying anything I haven't said a thousand times before."

In his address Mr Territt said the commission believed that Europe needs a treaty to be agreed and ratified ahead of the 2009 European elections.

The proposed treaty would underpin some of the most deep-seated aspirations of European citizens, reinforce core values and reassure persistent concerns.

"Above all, it will give the Union the capacity to deliver change, to make Europeans more secure and prosperous, to open up their opportunities to shape globalisation."

However, Mr Coughlan said it was quite improper for the commission or its employees to take part in the national debate and probably unlawful since the Supreme Court's decision in the McKenna case.

It was also possibly unlawful under European law as it entailed an "improper use" of EU funds.

The commission was not a signatory to the treaty, whose ratification was solely a matter for the EU member states, Mr Coughlan said in a statement.

The commission was an outside body whose duty it was not to promote the ratification of a treaty that would add greatly to its powers by giving it a right of veto in 40 new areas of policy.

Mr Coughlan claimed that in the past the commission did not allow its employees to engage in domestic political debates.

"Irish citizens contribute by their taxes to financing the European Commission, and therefore Mr Territt's own salary by whatever minuscule amount.

"Commission funds and Mr Territt's time and energy should not be spent in making propaganda for the Lisbon Treaty."

Meanwhile, No campaigners have launched a new website, www.voteno.ie, to promote opposition to the treaty.

The editors of the site, sociology lecturer, author and member of the Socialist Workers Party Kieran Allen and writer Sinead Kennedy, said it hopes to mobilise the type of reaction which led to the rejection of the EU constitution in France.

Meanwhile Minister of State for European Affairs Dick Roche said the EU's single market would continue to create the conditions for Irish business to prosper. Competition would continue to be a cornerstone of the EU.