Sir, - So Bono's latest foray into the world of international politics is to reassure the politicians of Europe that the Irish voters hadn't really understand the issue involved in the Nice Referendum and that, if they had, they would have voted differently(The Irish Times, July 18th).
It seems as if the whole approach of the current Yes campaign is based on this apparent lack of understanding by the electorate, who, when apprised of this fact, will gladly admit their error and change their minds if given a second chance.
One can accept and excuse such an approach from our local politicians, whose pronouncements tend to be laced with a goodly dose of hyperbole and are treated accordingly. However, it really is a bit too much to be told by a geriatric pop star with an inflated sense of his importance that I didn't understand what I was doing when I voted No in the previous referendum. His attitude reminds me of a notice which a former boss had on his office wall: "People who think they know everything annoy those of us who do."
I am more than willing to re-examine the issues surrounding the forthcoming referendum, just as I considered them in the previous one, and come to a reasoned decision as to how I will vote. However, if I am to be told continually by those who apparently know better that I don't really understand the issues, I might just be tempted to throw my hat at it and vote No once again. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN GILLEN,
Downside Park,
Skerries,
Co Dublin.
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Sir, - I very much welcome the recent statement by Mr Sean Dorgan, the Chief Executive of IDA Ireland, at the launch of the agency's annual report for 2002 when he commented on the importance of securing a Yes vote in the forthcoming referendum if we are to continue to secure inward investment.
He made the following key points:
Ireland's economic prospects depends on a strong, confident and growing Europe.
The vote on the Nice Treaty will be widely seen by investors and potential investors as indicating the degree of our engagement in the EU - whether we are participating at the heart of its future development or are going to be marginalised.
We know how much Ireland has gained in terms of our international standing and in terms of securing investment since joining Europe in 1973. We have been recognised as being open, active and confident in all our dealings and this has contributed hugely to our reputation as an investment location.
We have benefited tremendously from the single market with its free movement of goods, persons, services and capital. We are also benefiting from membership of the euro, whereby our exporters can export goods and services without having to pay special import duties.
A decision by Ireland not to ratify the Nice Treaty will be seen as a withdrawal by Ireland from our commitment to the European Union.
Because we are a relatively small country and more trade-dependent than any other member-state, our economic prospects are tied to an intimate and central involvement in the European Union.
We have every prospect of securing a greater level of investment over the coming years so long as we are seen as outward-looking, competitive and willing to take on each new challenge that faces us. Our attractiveness will quickly wane if we are seen to be turning our backs on the future of Europe.
Decisions made in Brussels can have a profound influence on the environment for investment and Ireland must be centrally involved in policy making if we are to influence thinking in this way.
If the Nice Treaty is not accepted, Irish people will be in danger of being presented, however unfairly, as unwilling to accept the challenges now posed by a larger European Union, with new members joining who are less advantaged than we are, or were, when we joined.
We have benefited from our membership of the European Union since 1973. We are continuing to benefit - and will do so in the future. Nice is about creating jobs for Irish people at home and new markets for our companies. - Yours, etc.,
GERARD COLLINS, MEP,
The Hill,
Abbeyfeale,
Co Limerick.
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Sir, - It has been suggested that employers should encourage their employees to vote in favour of the Nice Treaty. I personally believe very strongly in the EU and the main tenets of the Nice Treaty, but I would find it difficult to "sell" it to any Irish voter. The simple fact is, that having failed to a sell a product once to a customer, you don't come back with exactly the same product at the same price, because it will again be rejected.
May I suggest that the promoters of the Nice Treaty come back to the Irish people with an undertaking that the EU will change regulations, current practice, laws or whatever would be required in order to achieve a single harmonised market in insurance? Surely it must be central to Europhile thinking that risk should be carried by the full population of the EU as a whole, especially as our major insurance companies are pan-European.
If someone in a position of authority should tell me that by voting for Nice my insurance costs (which have gone up by over 100 per cent in the past 18 months) will come down into line with the rest of Europe, I will not only encourage my employees to vote for it, I will go from door to door actively canvassing for it! - Yours, etc.,
SEAMUS BUTLER,
Strokestown Road,
Longford.