The Government has been urged by the European Movement to provide a full and clear information campaign on the Amsterdam Treaty in advance of the forthcoming referendum. At the issuing in Dublin earlier this week of the movement's information document on the treaty - the first to be published - its chairman, Fine Gael TD Mr Alan Dukes, said that in the last two referendums people were expected to go to the polls and vote on issues on which they did not have access to full and easily understandable information.
"The fact that some people deliberately spoiled their vote in the recent referendum [on Cabinet confidentiality] due to lack of information indicates that the current application of the McKenna judgment is not serving the people's interests," he said. "The Government has an obligation to consider urgently how best to convey information in any plebiscite so that people are encouraged to come out and vote in an informed manner."
The movement, which is a cross-party, cross-sector organisation promoting debate on European issues and their impact on Ireland, says the treaty is the first in Europe that could be clearly described as a "people's treaty", adding that it specifically welcomes the emphasis on citizenship, fundamental rights and non-discrimination.
It also endorses the placing of jobs, the rights and interests of consumers and environmental protection as core EU objectives, he added.
Mr Dukes said articles relating to such areas in the treaty showed the EU was putting the concerns of its citizens to the forefront. "The holding of an extraordinary employment summit last November, where European leaders decided to put the provisions of the new chapter on employment in the treaty into effect immediately, clearly underlines this fact."
According to the movement, the ratification of the Europol convention, and its inclusion in the treaty, represent significant and positive steps in the fight against drugs and crime within the EU.
