ANTI-LISBON CAMPAIGN:IRISH ANTI-LISBON Treaty campaigners have dismissed the additional guarantees agreed at the EU summit yesterday and said they are confident a second referendum will be defeated.
Speaking at a press conference in Dublin, newly elected Socialist MEP for Dublin Joe Higgins once again insisted the EU summit was an “elaborate charade” meant to distract attention from the key issues.
“The debate on the Lisbon Treaty has yet to be held because we’ve been dealing with side issues,” he said.
Mr Higgins was determined that the secured guarantees would not mean the treaty would be ratified.
“They [the Government] will try and terrify the people because of the catastrophic economic crisis, which is highly ironic given that the political party trying to do that is the very party which is responsible for the disastrous crash.”
Patricia McKenna, chairwoman of the People’s Movement, said the treaty about to be put before the public was the same one rejected by voters last July.
“The reasons why people voted No to the treaty have not been addressed or rectified, and for that reason, once that message gets across to people, I don’t think they are going to change their vote.
“The so-called legally binding guarantees which the Government claim they fought hard to secure do not change one single aspect of the Lisbon Treaty.
“All they do is reiterate the same assurances given by EU heads of state during the first referendum,” she added.
Pádraig Mannion of the Peace and Neutrality Alliance said many of those who voted for the treaty had changed their mind.
“A lot of people who voted Yes last time out are affronted by the fact that we’re being treated like in Zimbabwe, that we get to continue voting until we get the right result. I think a lot of people who voted in favour of the treaty are upset that Irish democracy is being turned on its head.”
Sinn Féin said it was “deeply disappointing” that the Government had failed to address concerns on workers’ rights and public services.
“Today marks a missed opportunity by the Irish Government and EU leaders to tackle Europe’s new economic circumstances by producing a new treaty that can deliver real change,” said Mary Lou McDonald.
Libertas, which played a prominent role in persuading voters to reject the treaty last year, said it had no comment to make on the guarantees.
