Treaty `will create a two-tier EU'

The Irish people "should not be bullied into a meek Yes vote" in the referendum on the Nice Treaty, the president of the Workers' Party said yesterday. Mr Sean Garland, speaking at the start of the party's anti-Nice campaign in Dublin yesterday, said the treaty would create a "two-tier structure" in the EU.

Also launching its No campaign at a separate event yesterday was the new left-wing grouping, the Socialist Alliance.

Mr Garland said the treaty was a move away from one of the fundamental principles of the Union's founding fathers; that of equality of members.

"If this treaty is ratified by the Irish people it will be possible for large states such as Germany and France, combined with any third member-state, to block any decision which they consider unfavourable to them," he said.

Dismissing Government assertions that this State's neutrality would not be affected by the Treaty, he said it paved the way for "an unaccountable European army in which Irish military personnel will be expected to serve outside the control of the United Nations".

The party was not against EU enlargement, said the former party president, Mr Tomas MacGiolla. "But we want newcomers to come in under the same terms as we did. This treaty puts restrictions on newcomers.

"They [pro-Nice campaigners] say reducing voting powers for smaller nations is in the interests of efficiency. Well, the most efficient way to run would be by dictatorship. This treaty will take power away from citizens and national governments and give it to the EU."

Speaking at the Socialist Alliance's launch was Mr Des Bonass, representing the ATGWU. Among his objections, he said, was the "EU push towards privatisation" which would represent an "attack on the trade union movement".

Mr Kieran Allen, lecturer in the department of sociology at UCD and author of The Celtic Tiger, The Myth of Social Partnership, said the treaty provided the legal framework for a European army which would need up to 250,000 personnel.

Both groups said they thought the treaty could be defeated and urged people to come out and vote. "The Government is relying on a low turnout to get this through," said Mr Garland.