LUCINDA CREIGHTON,
Sir, - It appears that Brendan O'Reilly (September 23rd) will vote No to Nice because, among other reasons, he believes a second poll on the issue is an affront to democracy. He likens it to running a second general election simply because one may be unhappy with the original result.
Like Mr O'Reilly, I did not like the result of the last election in the slightest. I also believe that many people who voted for the current Government would relish the opportunity to cast their ballots again and that, in the cold face of our current economic reality, the result today would be very different to that delivered last May.
An increasingly popular notion appears to be gaining currency - that by voting No to Nice, we can deliver a strong message of dissatisfaction to the Government - that we can hit Bertie where it hurts.
I find this sentiment worrying, because it appears to be picking up a good deal of momentum recently, particularly in light of the Charlie McCreevy revelations over the weekend.
Tempting as this may be, the reality is that by voting No to teach the government a lesson the Irish people would be cutting off their noses to spite their own faces.
Our economy has benefited from the enormous market opportunities in the EU. Unemployment has dropped sharply, standards of living have improved beyond recognition, and the expectations and ambitions of Irish people have risen as confidence in our nation's place in the world has soared. If we are now faced with an economic slump, it is not due to our place at the heart of the European Union, but to the duplicitous and inept current government.
Sadly, however, if we vote No to Nice, it is not Charlie McCreevey, Mary Harney or Bertie Ahern who would suffer the consequences. Ireland would no longer be at the heart of EU decision making and would be marginalised in Europe. Our bargaining power would be dramatically reduced when the CAP reforms are negotiated before 2006. Foreign investment in Ireland would fall as we were seen to have lost our traditional influence in Europe.
The risks of voting No are too high. I am all in favour of punishing the government for the litany of lies, the duplicity, the mendacity and basic contempt they have shown for the people of Ireland. But I do not believe that in trying to avenge the broken promises the people of Ireland should be further punished.
We may have to wait a while to punish the Government. It will take time, but it will be worth waiting for. - Yours, etc.,
LUCINDA CREIGHTON,
Lower Grand Canal Street,
Dublin 2.
Sir, - I may have the solution to the present dilemma of the conscientious Nice II supporter, who is rightly disturbed that Mr Ahern wants the electorate to sign a blank cheque for him, now we have seen the colour of his money in the period after the last general election.
The Ahern-Harney Government should call a general election immediately. We could then elect a new government (of whatever colour the people decided) without the haze of lies which particularly characterised one side of the recent election campaign.
After that, we could vote on Nice II without the temptation to misuse it to punish a deeply dishonest government.
Failing this, we should all vote against Nice II, the FF-PD Government would then have to do the honourable think and resign. When we had elected a new government we could finally vote on Nice III on its merits.
But in the light of experience since the election, am I innocent to imagine that this FF-PD Government would do anything honourable? - Yours, etc.,
HUGO BRADY BROWN,
Stratford on Slaney,
Baltinglass,
Co Wicklow.
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Sir, - Regarding the many claims that the "eyes of Europe" are watching Ireland as we proceed with our second vote on the Nice referendum, may I inform your readers of a recent observation from the European heartland?
I was recently part of a delegation which visited the Fête L'Humanité in Paris. This annual festival is attended by approximately a million people from throughout Europe and beyond.
Amazingly, during my many conversations on European current affairs, nobody had heard of the Nice Treaty, not to mention the first or second Irish referendums on the subject.
Did I have the misfortune to meet a most uninformed cross-section of the European populace? Or are some Irish politicians telling us lies (as if they would!) with regards to our own self-importance?
I tend to believe the latter, as the Fête L'Humanité is fundamentally a political event.
As a No voter, I am more convinced than ever that for Ireland to reject the Nice Treaty, will do Europe a service. Rejection will inevitably lead to a new treaty being negotiated, hopefully with a greater involvement by the European populace. - Yours, etc.,
NOEL MURPHY,
North Main Street,
Cork.