Madam, - Although strongly in favour of the EU I will not vote for proposals that I do not understand and cannot read. Like Vincent Browne (March 5th) I have found the Lisbon Treaty to be unreadable. Requiring citizens to vote on documents which they cannot read shows contempt for them.
It is, however, unnecessary for Ireland to vote on the entirety of this treaty as it is written. It is necessary to vote only on those aspects that change our constitutional position and not on those EU provisions already voted on here under previous treaties and therefore fully incorporated in our constitution.
This forthcoming referendum should not incorporate any re-run of earlier referendums.
What is needed therefore is a readable document, independently produced, clearly outlining the changes to our Constitution which Lisbon will cause. It is on this document only that we should be required to vote. Citizens generally should not vote in favour of documents designed so that they cannot read and clearly understand them. - Yours, etc,
SEÁN MCDONAGH,
Bettyglen,
Raheny,
Dublin.
Madam, - The constant pointing to the length and complex nature of the Lisbon Treaty document by commentators achieves nothing except a statement of the obvious and it is also relatively insulting to the intelligence of the Irish people.
Do the opponents of the Lisbon Treaty believe that we are not capable of reading a long document?
Yes, the Lisbon Treaty is a lengthy, complex document. It aims to reform the administration of 27 member states working together, the governance of close to 500 million people and the largest economic block in the world. If it was not lengthy and complex, surely something would be amiss?
Yes, a document that references and amends previous treaties might make a challenging read, but it is certainly not the impossible and insurmountable task that it is being made out to be and is certainly not beyond the capabilities of the citizens of Ireland.
The EU is not a new, alien organisation foisting this treaty upon us. Ireland has been an active and engaged member for 35 years. We have voted on European issues in several referendums.
We have some degree of familiarity with the concept. It is not "arrogant" or "contemptuous" to believe that we as "ordinary citizens" are capable of making an informed democratic decision on the Lisbon Treaty despite its "complex" nature. Perhaps those opposing the treaty should give the Irish people a little more credit? - Yours, etc,
LAURA REAL,
Clonlara,
Co Clare.