COLM O'DOHERTY,
Sir, - As a committed environmentalist I am extremely disappointed with the Green Party's disavowal of the European project. On a broad level, the EU has been instrumental in the creation of a political peace and economic stability right across Europe. Ireland's economic "miracle" has been secured on the back of massive economic transfers from other EU member-states.
However, it is on the issue of environmental protection that the Greens' disingenuous critique of the EU project really perplexes. EU membership provided an international regulatory mechanism which can curb the extent to which Irish citizens are exposed to environmental risks and hazards. Left to our native Government alone, our environment would not be protected to anywhere near the same degree. Membership of the EU has advanced the social and human rights of women, children, those with special needs, workers and minority groups.
The European project seeks to further the social and economic integration of all European states, including the former East European bloc. Blocking Nice and delaying and frustrating the economic and social regeneration of countries that have applied to join the EU is not only petty and selfish, but likely to produce adverse unintended consequences for the people of Ireland. If we display disloyalty and lack of commitment to the EU project it will not be surprising if we become "compromised members" in the eyes of members and potential members. As a peripheral member-state we will become easy prey for US economic, social and cultural empire-building.
At present it is only our European citizenship that prevents us from becoming the 51st state of the US. The realpolitik of globalisation alerts us to the folly of neutrality as a basis of opposition to Nice. We cannot stand outside the global village: we can only choose our position within it. I urge people to choose European citizenship over US serfdom. - Yours, etc.,
COLM O'DOHERTY, The Grove, Mounthawk,
Co Kerry.