Sir, - Dr Martin Mansergh (June 14th) speaks of the "immediate and comprehensive loss of influence we will suffer, if the Nice Treaty were to be definitely rejected by the people".
Am I missing something? As I understand it, we the Irish people have already "definitely rejected" this treaty just 12 months ago. How many times must Dr Mansergh and his party be informed of the wishes of the Irish people before they will respect them?
Are we to expect a repeat of the referendum of March 6th last, as then too, we the people were out of touch with his party's express wishes?
Or could it be that Fianna Fáil is more pro-Nice than "pro-life"? - Yours etc.,
ETHEL CHESTERTON,
Coosan,
Athlone,
Co Westmeath.
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Sir, - John O'Brien (June 18th) and other recent correspondents have voiced opposition to ratification of the Nice Treaty on the grounds that it supposedly undermines the equality of member-states in the European Union.
Such views are misconceived. Member-states are not treated "equally" in all aspects of the Union at present; to do so would mean that citizens in different member-states were treated far from equally. Thus larger states have more Council votes, more seats in the European Parliament, and (currently) more nominees in the Commission.
However, all key decisions, including treaty changes, must be made by unanimity, with each state's voice being of equal value. The Union, as is often argued, is based on balances.
The Treaty of Nice preserves these balances. Larger states gain a small extra number of votes, but will be heavily outnumbered by "small" states following enlargement.
Meanwhile the large states have agreed to give up their second Commissioner. More generally, where majority voting does apply, Ireland has hardly ever been on the losing side of such a vote.
Conspiracy theorists such as Patricia McKenna MEP argue that Nice involves everything from the creation of a European army to the establishment of a bureaucratic superstate. The prosaic reality is that the treaty makes minor institutional adjustments to prepare for an historic enlargement.
Failure to ratify it would be a catastrophic error for Ireland. - Yours, etc.,
MICHAEL RYAN,
Javastraat,
The Hague,
Netherlands.
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Sir, - I voted No in the last referendum on the Nice treaty simply because I did not know why I should vote in favour. I now challenge the Government to produce an easily read booklet in plain English, intelligible to the common man or woman, to be distributed to all households explaining what exactly we are being asked to vote for or against.
I am aware there was a booklet last time. - Yours, etc.,
CORMAC DIEGAN,
Athboy House,
Ballinode,
Co Monaghan.