A group of trade union leaders have launched a campaign for a “yes” vote in the forthcoming Lisbon referendum, arguing that it will improve rights for workers.
The Charter Group said that there was compelling evidence that Europe had been of enormous benefit to workers in Ireland.
Blair Horan of the CPSU union, who is secretary of the Charter Group, said that in terms of workers rights, the public would be voting on different issues than had been present in the previous referendum.
He said that the rights of workers to collective bargaining had been advanced by a recent judgement in the European Court of Human Rights he also said that the Government's solemn declaration on worker rights had been an important development which would assist in dealing with some of the issues which had arisen in recent judgements in the European Court of Justice.
Mr Horan said that the purpose of the Europe Union was promoting peace and prosperity and it had delivered on these two issues for 50 years.
He said that since Ireland joined in 1973, each additional European treaty had added to the rights of workers. He said that the Lisbon Treaty represented an end to this process and the charter of fundamental rights which contained many of the rights achieved by workers in recent years would now have the status of treaty law.
Clare Tracy of the Irish Nurses Organisation said all major developments in recent years for women had been achieved through the EU and pointed out that there had been 13 directives on gender equality.
The Charter Group strongly criticised arguments made in recent days by opponents of the Lisbon Referendum.
The deputy general secretary of Impact Shay Cody said that arguments made by Jimmy Kelly of Unite were "absolutely wrong".
Mr Kelly and Unite yesterday urged voters to vote no in the referendum.
Mr Cody said that Unite in the UK was complaining that it was not being implemented by the British government but that Mr Kelly was "doing his damndest" to stop the charter having any legal affect in Ireland.
"We know that Jimmy Kelly has an extreme left position and this is influencing the stance he is articulating rather than the views of tens of thousands of his members in the financial sector who are relying on the EU for support."
Mr Horan described as dishonest and ludicrous claims by the group Cóir that the Lisbon Treaty could lead to a reduction in the minimum wage.
