PEOPLE'S MOVEMENT:The veteran Dublin Central deputy, who has been ill for some time, returned yesterday to chair the final press conference of the People's Movement, a group comprised of politicians and other public figures which is calling for a No vote tomorrow.
"We will lose a commissioner and lose voting strength. We will also be giving in to the military and nuclear industries," said Mr Gregory.
He was one of nine speakers who urged voters to reject the proposed amendment on grounds that ranged from the increased militarisation of Europe, the implications for workers, the loss of democratic accountability and what most speakers said were the "bullying tactics" of the Yes camp.
Independent Senator David Norris said he had come down on the No side because of the growing militarisation of the EU. He also accused the Yes side of bullying.
"What kind of democracy are they giving us? Apparently they think they can buy us. This may be a small country but it's a proud country," he said.
Evoking Winston Churchill,the Senator said: "Never in the course of European history has so few voted for so many who are denied the vote." Independent TD Finian McGrath said he believed that the momentum was with the No side but still put the outcome at "50-50".
The artist Robert Ballagh said that anybody who was confused should vote No. He also questioned the argument of the Yes side that 27 commissioners was far too unwieldy.
"The people who are arguing this case are the people who have 35 Ministers in Ireland to administer a nation of four million people. The Yes side is being utterly hypocritical in this argument."
In a criticism of The Irish Times, he said: "There have been eight editorials in the paper of record with one editorial saying we would be out of our minds to contemplate a No vote. Is this the way that democracy should work?"
Green Party councillor Bronwen Maher said that nothing in the treaty would significantly change the EU's ability to take action on climate change. She said there were no new legal powers on the environment.
Referring to the protocol inserted in Lisbon on the Euratom Treaty, she said: "It does mean that we will have to support further expansion of nuclear power plants and to accept nuclear power through the national grid."
Her Green Party colleague Patricia McKenna said the People's Movement was not anti-Europe. "It is pro-Europe and wants an open and democratic and demilitarised Europe."
Former Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins said the treaty was bad news for workers. "The Taoiseach over the weekend demolished the exaggerated claims made by Ictu and the Labour Party about the Charter of Fundamental Rights by his point-blank refusal to provide legislation to allow collective bargaining for workers in their workplace," he said.
Former TDs Declan Bree from Sligo and Jerry Cowley from Mayo also called for a No vote.
