Madam, - When last week's referendum result was announced, I was in a rural constituency, where I had a conversation with the wife of a friend - an intelligent, articulate and highly educated lady. She mentioned that her biggest fear with regard to Lisbon was that her three-month-old son could eventually be conscripted into a European army.
There may well be many legitimate reasons for unease at the direction the EU has taken over the past decade or so. Some of these were articulated intelligently by Libertas, the Socialist Party and some trade unions, and even by Sinn Féin. This lady's fear, however, sprung from the campaign of unadulterated lies and whispered disinformation that was spun by groups such as Cóir. Threats of conscription, enforced abortions, one-child policies and microchipping of Irish children were subtly interjected into the debate on the treaty. The result was that nebulous but powerful fears were added to the general distrust of the political establishment, pushing many people towards a No vote.
This campaign of lies and its progenitors should have been countered aggressively by the political parties, who had the funding and airtime to do so. Instead, they produced campaign posters that were actually election posters, bickered amongst themselves, and at no stage provided the electorate with a positive view of what EU membership means to Ireland, past, present and future.
With such lies allowed free run in this country, perhaps we should consider that the rest of Europe, a collection of nations that knows, much better than we do, the dangers of malignant propaganda, is better off without us. - Yours, etc,
KEVIN FORKAN,
Wyckham Place,
Dundrum,
Dublin 14.
****
Madam, - Why are so many media commentators in denial over the referendum result? The subtext of many newspaper articles seems to be: "If only our politicians had explained Lisbon better, there would have been a Yes vote".
The fact is, there was a No vote and Brian Cowen must now represent that as the view of the Irish people. No voters are not ignorant, ill-informed, or a bunch of crackpots; we simply disagreed with the Government's view. That is democracy. - Yours, etc,
FERGAL RYAN,
Upper Rathmines Road,
Dublin 6.
****
Madam, - In the end, it was the "vox-pops" that gave us the most accurate prediction of the referendum result. Almost without exception, over the past couple of weeks, we heard the man or woman in the street say: "What's in it for me?"
It appears that so many of us have become so accustomed to hand-outs from Europe that any change in the status quo is viewed with deep suspicion. And this was easily exploited by extremists from left and right.
To put a referendum to ordinary people on the merits or otherwise of such a complex treaty document, in the certain knowledge that it would neither be read nor understood by the majority, was simply asking for a rejection.
The peculiarly Irish phenomenon of turning to the people to make decisions on complex matters requiring expert debate and analysis has left our leaders open to ridicule. And it is us, the people, who will suffer the consequences.- Yours, etc,
NIALL GINTY,
Killester,
Dublin 5.
****
Madam, - Garret FitzGerald (Opinion, June 14th) considers that the referendum was influenced by "a lethal combination of people reflecting right-wing US military and neo-con antipathy to the EU (seen by them as a threat to Nato), together with our own domestic anti-US left-wingers". He might consider that there were others, like myself, who voted No because of a deep-seated aversion to signing blank cheques or incomprehensible contracts.
I tried to read the text of this treaty and found it consisted mainly of amendments to another document whose text was not presented. I realised that trying to determine exactly what the treaty intended would be almost impossible for the average voter.
Brian Cowen's failure is not that he failed to persuade the electorate to approve this mishmash, but that - as one of the original negotiators of this document - he allowed it (either through bureaucratic laziness or deliberate obfuscation) to be presented to the people in this form, rather than as the comprehensive, self-contained constitution it was originally intended to be.
Insulting the intelligence of the electorate is never a good move, and is almost invariably punished, as in this case. - Yours, etc,
BARRY TOOMEY,
Kill Lane,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
****
Madam, - So we have decided to shoot ourselves in the foot! We will be paying for this decision for many years to come. The self-inflicted wounds will mark a turning point in the nation's affairs and will aggravate our impending economic crisis. Our grandchildren will be asking us why we said No to Europe in 2008. We will need to have a good answer. - Yours, etc,
DAVID JOHN DILLON,
Carysfort Avenue,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.
****
Madam, - First we excitedly choose Berlin. Then we were moved towards Boston. Now we are well on the way to Birmingham! - Yours, etc,
KEITH NOLAN,
Caldragh,
Carrick-on-Shannon,
Co Leitrim.
A Chara, - Friday 13th proved to be a very lucky day for the Irish, for the 99.3 per cent of Europe denied a vote and for democracy in general.
While elated with the resounding rejection of the Lisbon Treaty I was shocked to discover that there was such a substantial bloc of "loo-lahs" and "extremists" in this country, to quote the words of two former taoisigh describing those who might have the audacity to reject their advice.
Clearly, a sophisticated electorate was not impressed by the bullyboy tactics, name-calling and arrogance of the establishment, which also characterised the two previous referendums on the Nice Treaty. I hope the wishes of the much derided "plain people of Ireland" will be respected this time round.
I don't believe for a minute that this was a Euro-sceptic or anti-Europe vote but rather an expression of genuine concern at the direction in which the whole European project is heading. I'm sure this view would be shared by many people throughout the continent who are denied a vote in the matter. While the "great and the good" may be scratching their heads in wonder as to what went wrong I don't see any signs that the sky is now about to fall or that we will sink beneath the waves.
The establishment also warned us that we would become the "pariahs of Europe" if we said No. On the contrary, I have no doubt we would now be very well received by the citizens of Paris or Amsterdam this summer, having followed their lead. - Is mise,
FIONNTÁN Ó SÚILLEABHÁIN,
Guaire,
Co Loch Garman.
****
Madam, - In a campaign distinguished by incompetence on one side and the politics of big lies on the other, one contribution stands out in my mind for its sheer stupidity. The serving Irish Commissioner who said that no "sane" person would read the Lisbon Treaty, and who hadn't read it himself, is perhaps the best proof that Ireland would lose little by not having a commissioner at the table all the time. He should now consider his own position. - Yours, etc,
PIARAS MAC ÉINRÍ,
Model Farm Road,
Cork.
****
Madam, - Would it be heresy to question at this point why we need to be a member of the EU at all? My understanding of the referendum result is that the Irish people are happy to be members of an economic and market union but are less happy at the prospect of participating in a closer political union.
There is an excellent example of a small country in Europe which provides significant prosperity and wellbeing for its people and yet sits outside the EU. I am of course referring to Switzerland, a country of 5 million people which enjoys a close relationship with the EU through a series of bilateral agreements, yet has full autonomy over its own economic and political affairs.
For example, among the freedoms that Switzerland enjoys are its ability to set its rates of taxation without comment or jealousy from others.
Despite sitting outside the EU, Switzerland has been notably successful at attracting multinational companies to locate significant operations there. Critics of this argument might suggest that Switzerland benefits by sitting geographically between the great powers of old Europe. However, with modern technology, communications and transportation, Ireland's traditional remoteness on the western edge of Europe is no longer the barrier it once was.
Can I suggest that, for the more adventurous politician, this radical solution could be the best of them all? - Yours, etc,
RICHARD FLOOD,
Main Street,
Howth,
Co Dublin.
****
Madam, - The naysayers have had their day. Ireland has swallowed the lies, myths, scares and distortions of the No campaigners of every hue and none.
So who will pick up the pieces? Not Declan Ganley, with his mysterious money and mysterious agenda. Not the Shinners, with their new-found hatred of militarism. Not Cóir, with its curious devotion to distortions and untruths. Not Vincent Browne. Not Eamon Dunphy. Not Gay Byrne. Not Shane Ross. Not Ulick McEvaddy. But our elected representatives.
God help us, they are inept; they made a bags of their campaign and they are held in contempt.
But I'd rather them, than the disagreeable mob which makes up the No side. - Yours, etc,
P. THOMAS MURRAY,
Harold's Cross,
Dublin 6W.
****
Madam, - Do you know that my country, Croatia, can't join the EU now that Ireland has rejected the Lisbon Treaty? We hoped to be the 28th member of the Union in 2010, but without this document this isn't possible. The Mafia and criminals in Croatia will destroy everything that war didn't destroy! The European Union was our only chance.
Young people in Croatia every year celebrate St Patrick's Day. We thought you were our Catholic brothers. Rich Ireland stopped poor Croatia on its way to become a decent and developed European country. Without the EU's help, Ireland will be as poor as Croatia is today. Thank you, "brothers"! - Yours, etc,
TOMISLAV ZIVKOVIC,
Zagreb,
Croatia.
****
Madam, - Many of those who voted No to the Lisbon Treaty would have done so after praying for divine guidance and many of those who voted Yes would have prayed that the will of God would be done - whatever the outcome.
When our Taoiseach is asked by the "big shots" in Brussels why Ireland voted No - thus upsetting all their calculations and plans - he might suggest to them that God was simply getting his own back on them for their callous omission of any mention of Him in the treaty - despite the earnest request of the last pope, John Paul II, and the wishes of most Europeans!
As for the charge that we are being ungrateful for all the benefits we have secured from Europe in the past, Mr Cowen might remind them of the immense debt which Europe in turn owes to Ireland. During the Dark Ages, when Europe was a spiritual wasteland, it was Irish missionaries who revived Christianity there and it was Irish saints who, by copying the ancient manuscripts, enabled the classical and religious heritage to be saved while many libraries on the continent were lost forever. - Is mise,
SEAN Ó CEALLAIGH,
Phibsboro,
Dublin 7.
****
Madam, - First we jokingly send a stuffed turkey to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest. Then, less amusing by far, we reject the Lisbon Treaty without appearing to know why. Ireland has clearly become much too good for the EU. Or simply too big for its boots? - Yours, etc,
DAVID POWELL,
Arcachon,
France.
****
Madam, - I knew I was right to vote Yes when I read of the UK Conservatives being delighted at the result. - Yours, etc,
CHRIS MURPHY,
Garadice, Kilcock,
Co Kildare.