A round-up of other Lisbon Referendum news compiled by
STEVEN CARROLLand
LORNA SIGGINS
Employers urged to be flexible on voting
Employers have been urged to show some flexibility by ensuring that commuting workers have ample time to cast their vote in Friday’s referendum.
Dublin Chambers of Commerce said 20 per cent of those working in the city commute for over an hour each day and that others travel from as far away as counties Cork, Clare and Galway to work in the capital.
“Every vote matters,” said the organisation’s chief executive Gina Quinn. “We are asking all employers in Dublin to be flexible to requests from workers needing to make special arrangements in order to vote . . . this vote is too important for Ireland for their voices not to be heard.”
Polling stations across the country will open between 7am and 10pm.
GAA players’ group claims treaty will raise status of sport
The Gaelic Players Association (GPA) has called for a Yes vote in the referendum, stating that the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty would help elevate the status of sport within the European Union (EU).
European Parliament president Jerzy Buzek said, on a recent visit to Dublin, that a European Commission White Paper on sport, containing recommendations on tackling obesity, doping, violence and racism, could be implemented under the Lisbon framework.
“Given that the status of sport with the European Commission is set to be enhanced if the Lisbon Treaty is ratified, we believe it is in the best interest of our members the treaty is passed,” GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell said. The GPA said it has been admitted to the EU Athletes’ Association, which represents some 25,000 professional and amateur athletes across 15 countries, allowing it to bring issues affecting its members to the attention of the European Commission. Strengthening relations with counterparts in Europe is important for the GPA, he said.
Accountants reject Ganley remarks
Comments by Libertas leader Declan Ganley that a Yes vote will advance European Union tax harmonisation agenda have been “unequivocally” rejected by Chartered Accountants Ireland.
The organisation said the Lisbon Treaty does not affect Ireland’s tax sovereignty, extend Europe’s influence over our tax affairs or allow the EU to unilaterally raise its own taxes. Mr Ganley’s analysis of the tax consequences of the Lisbon Treaty is factually incorrect and misleading, said the association’s taxation director Brian Keegan.
Puzzling questions in Galway
SOME slightly crestfallen, if not downright puzzled, looks from a large party entourage accompanying Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore in Galway yesterday.
During his press briefing, Mr Gilmore was asked if he was visiting the NUI Galway (NUIG) campus, given that the college’s students’ union was “supporting the No campaign”.
Well, no, Mr Gilmore faltered – his next engagement was actually on another campus on the other side of town, at Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT).
He proceeded to respond to the question, however, stating that he would be interested to know on what basis the decision was made.
Labour Party president Michael D Higgins contributed to the discussion, recalling how he had once been a students’ union president back in 1965.
He said all his campaigns since then had involved “dragging people into (supporting) rights of women, old people, migrants” and suchlike.
The idea that students would now take refuge in Cóir posters was . . . well the motion must have been passed during college week, Mr Higgins speculated.
In fact, there was no such decision, and “no position” according to a very mystified NUIG students’ union president Donna Cummins when contacted later.
She told The Irish Timesthe union had taken an approach similar to that of the Union of Students' of Ireland and was more concerned with encouraging students to exercise their vote.
Voting No will send a clear message that education is not a commodity to be bought and sold for the profit of big business but a right for all regardless of ability to pay.
– Socialist Party MEP Joe Higgins says the ratification of the treaty could result in privatisation of health and education services
Lisbon is a huge part of economic recovery because, I think, confidence in Ireland will be further undermined if we don’t have a Yes vote on Friday.
– Minister for Health Mary Harney says a Yes vote will be crucial to economic recovery