RETIRED CIVIL SERVANTS:A GROUP of retired senior civil servants, including 13 former secretaries general of government departments, has called for a Yes vote in the Lisbon Treaty referendum.
Among the signatories to a statement are Noel Dorr, former secretary general of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Paddy Teahon, former secretary general of the Department of An Taoiseach, and Dermot Nally, former secretary general to the Government.
“We are convinced that a No to a new Lisbon package in which our partners have worked so hard to meet Irish concerns would mean that much of the hard-earned goodwill towards Ireland would be lost,” they said.
The signatories said their experience convinced them Ireland’s interests lay in remaining fully in the mainstream of European integration and policy-making.
“Indeed, a No could affect our future in the union in a way that seriously damages our interests – particularly if we found ourselves isolated with the UK following a referendum there, with the consequences for the structure of the union that could follow from that,” the statement said.
Other retired secretaries general who signed the statement included Joe Brosnan (Justice), Sean Donlon (Foreign Affairs), Michael Dowling (Agriculture), Jimmy Farrelly (Environment) and Bernard McDonagh (Justice).
Brendan O’Donoghue (Environment), Pádraig O’Huiginn (Taoiseach), Andy O’Rourke (Foreign Affairs), Brendan Tuohy (Communications, Marine and Natural Resources) and Noel Whelan (Taoiseach) also put their signatures to the statement.
The severe economic crisis that has unfolded since September of last year underlined the importance of mainstream involvement in European Union developments for Ireland’s future, the statement said.
Ireland’s current bad position would be much worse without the State’s participation in the euro currency and the support and liquidity provided by the European Central Bank.
“A Yes vote on October 2nd will bring to an end a lengthy process of institutional reform for a Europe of 27 and allow Ireland and the EU to focus our combined efforts and solutions on the future and on the challenges that face us all.”
The statement said the majority of the signatories began their careers before Ireland joined the European Communities in 1973.
Eight retired ambassadors and other former senior civil servants also signed the statement, which said the treaty would bring benefits to Ireland.
