PATRICK KENNY,
Sir, - Commissioner David Byrne, at the McGill Summer School, has challenged opponents of the Nice Treaty to show the damage caused by Irish membership of the EU over the Past 30 years (The Irish Times, August 2nd). With respect to Mr Byrne, this is hardly relevant. Ireland may well have gained from EU membership, but that is clearly not the issue at stake in the Nice Treaty referendum.
We are not voting on whether or not to remain within the Union. We are voting on the proposals contained within the Nice Treaty itself, and any attempt to transform the referendum into a plebiscite on attitudes to EU membership are politically dishonest.
The Nice Treaty contains proposals which would alter the fundamental structure of the EU and the relationships between the member-states. If passed, it would mean that we no longer have control over fundamental changes to the nature of the Union. It would mean that we will lose representation on the Commission on a periodic basis. It would mean that the applicant countries will get a worse deal than we got on entry 30 years ago.
Rather than attempts to throw up smoke-screens about the benefits of membership, please let's have some honest debate. - Yours, etc.,
PATRICK KENNY, Kill Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.