Sir, - Ireland's rise from poverty became possible with our right to compete freely and equally on wider export markets.
Irish governments, particularly under Lemass, tried to obtain this basic requirement by limited trade agreements reducing tariffs and quotas at the border. While helpful, this was inadequate. Our trading partners could still exclude us by their internal regulations. Britain did so by direct subsidies to her farmers and by imposing levies (not "tariffs", which were covered by the Trade Agreement). There was no international court of appeal.
The Common Market, now EU, allowed Irish export industry to expand with more security by removing internal protection as well as that at the border. This limited the sovereign powers of the national governments in their internal affairs. There had to be a European Court to which each could appeal on breach of the agreement. (It would be rather futile to take a case against a foreign government in its own court). Like the other members, Ireland had to change many practices which gave an unfair advantage, as in labour law.
Some Irish academics (and Gay Byrne) feel we are in danger because we will not be able to revert to the methods of the 1960s in case of trade recession. True. However, we have gained protection from the imposition of such barriers to our trade by our trading partners. We are more dependent on exports than other countries. Our size, relative to the other member states is about the same as the town of Waterford relative to Ireland. We give up a small shield to gain a wider protection.
The Amsterdam Agreement is one logical step further by which we pool decision-making to make competition fair. Because the modern state is involved intimately in so many aspects of life, these regulations affect a very wide range of activity. I know that I dislike some of the policies which have been and will be adopted - just as I strongly object to some Irish state policies. That does not mean that I want to tear up my ticket and go back to the 1960s. A free-for-all between individuals, groups and states would not be in our interest. - Yours, etc., Louis Smith,
University College, Dublin Arts Building, Belfield, Dublin 4.