Mixed reaction to Lisbon assurances

There has been mixed reaction to the news that guarantees to the Lisbon Treaty have been secured with political parties and employers organisations welcoming the news while anti-Lisbon campaigners were dismissive of the deal.

Earlier this morning it was announced that Taoiseach Brian Cowen had secured agreement on legal guarantees which pledge that nothing in the Lisbon Treaty will affect Ireland's constitutional provisions on abortion and the family, its right to determine its own tax regime, or force the state to sign up to European defence co-operation.

Speaking this afternoon, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny welcomed the decision of the European Council to approve the guarantees.

“The Government must now set out a clear timetable for this treaty to be put to the Irish people. While some opinion polls have suggested that there is growing support for the Treaty, there is no room for complacency. It is essential that the Irish people are fully informed and reassured before they go to vote on this critical issue for the country’s future," he said.

Labour party leader Eamon Gilmore said he was confident that the additional guarantees would now enable the treaty to be endorsed by voters.

"As a result of the changes agreed Ireland will be able to retain its EU Commissioner and there will be legally binding agreements in regard to matters that were of serious concern to many Irish voters at the time of the referendum last year. It will be an additional reassurance for Irish voters that these legally binding guarantees will be attached as formal protocols to a subsequent EU Treaty," he said.

Green Party leader John Gormley said the guarantees would allow his party to decide its stance on Lisbon ahead of the expected referendum in the autumn.

He said progress on greater coordination on financial regulation across the EU was welcome.

"The Irish experience of the past nine months was that our Eurozone membership was crucial. We must do nothing to undermine or take away from that," he said.

He also welcomed the Lisbon guarantees in Ireland's military neutrality, and said the treaty would help strengthen the EU in providing international leadership on climate change

"Progress at these talks in Brussels is part of a process towards a common approach and a good outcome at the world summit on climate change in Copenhagen this December. Obstacles remain but a common EU position and a willingness to help developing countries with funds are crucial," he said.

Employers' group Ibec also welcomed the additional guarantees, saying that ratification of the treaty was more essential now than ever.

"The outcome of the next referendum will define Ireland's future relationship with Europe, and therefore with the world at large. A positive result is vital to ensure Ireland remains a constructive and dynamic partner in Europe. That is where our interests lie and where our future rests," said director of EU and international affairs Brendan Butler.

However, anti-Lisbon treaty campaigners dismissed the guarantees and said they were hopeful that a second referendum would be defeated.

Sinn Féin said it was "deeply disappointing" that the Government had failed to address concerns on workers' rights and public services.

"Even supporters of the Lisbon Treaty have described the declarations as failing to 'adequately address the needs of workers in Europe and Ireland'," said Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald.

"The government has worked hard over the last couple of weeks to create the impression that something important has been secured. Nothing could be further from the truth. Today marks a missed opportunity by the Irish Government and EU leaders to tackle Europe's new economic circumstances by producing a new Treaty that can deliver real change."

Newly elected Socialist MEP for Dublin Joe Higgins again insisted that the EU summit currently being held was an 'elaborate charade' meant to distract attention away from the key issues.

"The debate on the Lisbon Treaty has yet to be held because we've been dealing with side issues. The fundamentals have still to be debated," he said.

Mr Higgins was adamant that the secured guarantees would not mean that the treaty would be ratified.

"It is true that they (the Government) will try and terrify the people because of the catastrophic economic crisis, which is highly ironic given that the political party trying to do that is the very party which is responsible for the disastrous crash through its facilitation of the politics and economics of greed over the last 12 years...it's now going to use the fruits of its rotten policies to try and frighten the people and it is our obligation to debate this with the people."

At the press conference, Padraig Mannion, secretary of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance, described the issues for which guarantees had been sought, as 'red herrings' and said that many of those who voted in favour of the treaty last year had changed their mind.

" A lot of people who voted yes last time out are affronted by the fact that we're being treated like in Zimbabwe, that we get to continue voting until we get the right result. I think a lot of people who voted in favour of the treaty are upset that Irish democracy is being turned on its head," he said.

Patricia McKenna, chairperson of the People's Movement said that the Lisbon Treaty about to be put before the public was the same treaty that was rejected by voters last July.

"The recent why people voted No to the Lisbon Treaty have not been addressed, have not been rectified and for that reason, once that message gets across to people, I don't think they are going to change their vote.

Elsewhere, Libertas, which played a prominent role in persuading voters to reject the treaty last year, said it had no comment to make on the deal.

Earlier this week, the organisation admitted that it was highly unlikely that it would play any role in asecond referendum.