Madam, – Now that the Government has allowed us change our minds about Lisbon, will they allow us to change our minds about the Government? – Yours, etc,
A chara, – Let be me the first to congratulate the Irish electorate. Like good little children you have now taken the advice of your elders and betters and opened the doors to the free-market, neo-con wolves of Europe to run amok. Hear them howling in delight.
I wish to make these predictions in the newspaper of record: 1. There will now be a concerted, Europe-wide attack on public services (be they health care, education, public transport or energy provision) through the arguments of “competition”, “free market” and “de-regulation”. 2. Europe will get “tooled up” – in the not too distant future European Defence Force soldiers will be involved in fighting commodity wars. Our “neutrality” will of course be respected. 3. The European Union will standardise taxation rates across its empire – probably not a bad thing. 4. The only point which pleases me: an Irish woman will take her case to have the right to control her own body to a European court, which will find Ireland in breach of international law – certainly a good thing.
When, and as, these events come to pass I will be saying “I told you so!” . . . but I won’t enjoy it. What about the best of three, Mr Cowen? – Is mise,
Madam, – I am delighted that the Lisbon Treaty was passed. However, I would be loathe for the Government to interpret this as positive endorsement of its leadership.
I have been horrified by the lack of integrity, governance and competence demonstrated by the current Government. Let us hope that it expends as much energy in resolving these issues as it did in getting a Yes vote for the Lisbon Treaty. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Following the resounding Yes of the Irish people in the more recent referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, and with the score tied at one-all, when can we look forward to “the decider”? – Is mise,
A chara, – Congratulations to Martyn Turner and The Irish Timesfor single-handedly influencing the Yes vote outcome with the "Nigel Invasion" cartoon (September 22nd). Being advised to vote No by the United Kingdom Independence Party, as portrayed by the cartoon, tipped the balance in favour of a Yes vote for many, I reckon. – Is mise,
Madam, – Is this finally evidence of EU longterm neglect of Donegal’s coastal fishermen since Ireland joined the EEC in 1973? The lobby effort for the Irish coastal fishing industry has remained imbalanced and weak for decades by Government and other groups, especially when compared with the farming lobby.
Would it be that the coastal fishing sector and fishermen have been sacrificed too often when crucial deals were struck? The coastal fishing industry sticks out as the most neglected sector during our 36-year membership of the EU and the Donegal vote on Friday last emphatically makes this point. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – A stranger to Ireland might be forgiven for being puzzled. What exactly was the purpose of the centuries-long struggle for Irish nationhood if, now, she willingly sets out on the road to becoming part (a very small part, it has to be said) of a European super-state, peopled by those with whom she has far less in common than her former oppressors? I would be unable to enlighten that stranger. What I do know is that one old Irish tradition, that of electoral fraud, is still very much with us. Am I the only person who refuses to believe that a nation can appear to change its mind so convincingly in so short a time? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – The overwhelming support of the Irish people for the Lisbon Treaty is not an endorsement of the current Government, nor indeed of the political establishment. Rather, it is a reflection of our deep anxiety about our political leadership, and the wish/hope that a sincere vote in favour of Europe is an insurance premium against the risk that our politicians will mismanage us into oblivion. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – RIP Irish independence (1922-2009).
For a description of what just happened to the independence you (and we) used to enjoy, I can’t do better than “All changed, changed utterly”. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Seldom is it that I find myself on the side of the British Conservative party, but one could not argue with David Cameron when he said that it is grossly unfair that the electorate in his country were not given a say on the Lisbon Treaty, while here we were given two opportunities.
With one of the smallest populations in the EU, why did we hold the balance on such a crucial issue? It doesn’t bode well for equality for all in a “new” Union.
What’s more, I fail to see the ringing endorsement of the treaty here that most of our politicians are hailing.
Is it not now one-all after two attempts? When are we going to have the third and decisive vote? After all, it’s only fair, isn’t it? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – The Irish people have just been granted the democratic means to determine their future, and that of the European Union. It is to be hoped, therefore, that the Irish Government and Irish MEPs will protest in the most vigorous terms against the proposed appointment of Mr Tony Blair to the presidency of the European Union Council – not by democratic vote, but as a result of secret deals and backroom bargaining, now widely reported in the press.
What right have Messrs Sarkozy and Berlusconi to fix this appointment? Will the European Parliament have no opportunity to debate the matter or to exercise its veto?
One thing is certain: if this appointment goes ahead, the European Union’s claim to democratic government will be shown to be a sham, and in Britain Europe will become a lost cause. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – The necessity for a second Lisbon Treaty referendum had a very positive side effect. It forced those who understand the importance to Ireland of the European Union out of their complacency.
The No campaigners are to be thanked for creating an environment where it was incumbent upon the Government, business interests and the EU itself to explain the benefits, not just of membership, but of a whole hearted national enthusiasm for the European project. The pity is that this process had to take place at the risk of undermining our position.
Those of us who are old enough to remember Ireland before the EU tend to forget that a great many citizens alive today have no experience of the inward-looking island that Ireland could be on occasion before we joined.
They are just a little bit weary of being told the Angela's Ashesstories, and who would blame them?
On the other hand, democracy is alive and well when a diverse collection of groups and individuals can campaign so vigorously, even aggressively, for the rejection of a treaty designed to make the EU more streamlined in its operation.
It is always more important to be effective than it is to be efficient, but the EU needs to communicate its relevance to all citizens to a greater degree than it has been doing, as the Lisbon I result demonstrated. – Yours, etc,