AT THE National Forum on Europe's public meeting in Monaghan town, Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin urged a No vote on the basis that "EU leaders will be brought back to the negotiating table". "Of that," he said, "there is no doubt."
Mr Ó Caoláin told the 80-strong audience that voting Yes would see the Irish vote halved on the Council of Ministers at a time when "the EU has greater control over many more areas of legislation".
Fianna Fáil TD Margaret Conlon strongly disputed this claim, saying that "Sinn Féin's claim is based on counting only one part of the voting in its calculations." She compared this to "failing to count the goals when deciding who has won a hurling match". "The truth is under the new system, double-majority voting will give proportionate weight to population while protecting the interests of small and medium-sized member states." A number of audience members raised concerns about neutrality.
Mr Ó Caoláin said he regretted that there was no mention of the word in the treaty.
He added "there is no direct acknowledgement of neutral states, of which Ireland is one". He said that this was in marked contrast to the specific references to Nato which are found in the text.
He criticised the fact that Ireland, unlike Denmark, had failed to secure an opt-out from Article 28 which, he said, would see Irish taxpayers spend more money to increase Irish and EU military capabilities.
Mrs Conlon agreed that the treaty puts in place structures for EU-led military missions, however she argued that "each member state is free to participate or not as it chooses". She said that no member state can be forced into participation in any mission.