Madam, - If Kevin Hiney (May 20th) has not heard the outcry from Austria about the threat the Lisbon Treaty poses to the neutrality of EU member-states, could it be because he is not listening?
When I entered relevant German terms into a Web search engine, I found a call for a referendum to let the people vote to accept or reject the treaty, and a report of a demonstration in Vienna on March 29th, where 5,000 people bore banners reading: "No to EU dictatorship", "Free and neutral", and "We have the right to a referendum" (translated from German with the excellent dictionary at www.dict.cc).
As for the argument that Article 27, section 7 of the proposed new treaty does not actually threaten Austrian neutrality, one headline says it all: "Obligation to military assistance - sharper than in Nato".
But there is no need to read German to get the point. The Referendum Commission - "an independent body, set up by the Referendum Act 1998" - has produced a booklet in which we are told: "The Treaty provides that member-states have an obligation to aid and assist another member-state which is the victim of armed aggression".
Although the booklet goes on to say that "mutual assistance is expressly stated not to compromise. . .Ireland's policy on neutrality," it is difficult to give any credence to this assurance in view of the way the Irish Government has allowed hundreds of thousands of US troops to use Shannon on their way to and from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Ireland's alleged neutrality has been shot to shreds by the aid and assistance we have provided in these wars.
So we are left with the threat of an obligation to assist any other member of the EU that may find itself under attack - for whatever reason.
As Samuel Goldwyn would say: "Include me out!" - Yours, etc,
COILÍN ÓHAISEADHA, Metropolitan Apartments, Bóthar Inse Chór, Baile Átha Cliath 8.
Madam, - As far as I can see, the main issue at question is whether we want a more effective and more democratic Europe. The Lisbon Treaty is a treaty in the interests of its citizens - it is about creating a more democratic union. It gives more power to the European Parliament, which is directly elected by the people of Europe, in running Europe's affairs.
Europe has been good for Ireland - it has been a force for economic and social progress. We cannot ignore the fact that it has been directly responsible for important advances in social legislation. And membership of the Union has been fundamental to the development of Ireland as a trading economy.
The Lisbon Treaty introduces a streamlined decision-making and implementation process, while putting more power in the hands of European citizens. What's so bad about that? - Yours, etc,
ANN McALLISTER, Church Road, Killiney, Co Dublin
Madam, - While one can argue the rights and wrongs of giving the European Union more influence over Irish affairs, one thing that is abundantly clear is our loss of decision-making power at EU level.
When we joined the European Economic Community in 1973, we had three votes at the Council of Ministers' meetings. The bigger states had 10. At present we have seven votes, against 29 votes for the larger states. If we ratify Lisbon, under the new regime, our voting weight will fall significantly and Ireland will lose out dramatically.
Anyone who believes that Ireland will wield any significant influence post Lisbon is sorely mistaken. The last time the Irish people will have any significant say is when they vote in the forthcoming referendum. That is why I will be voting No. - Yours, etc,
MICHELLE NANASI, Derrydonnell North, Oranmore, Co Galway.
Madam, - Having served an an observer at local and national elections in Serbia at the beginning of this month, I feel that one big thing has been overlooked in our discussions on the Lisbon Treaty - the peace that the European Union has brought not only by its policies, but by creating a Union which has as its founding principles peace and prosperity for all.
During the elections in Serbia, I was struck by people's aspiration to join the Union. People look towards Ireland as an example for everyone to follow, not only in terms of the transformation of our economy but also in achieving a peaceful solution to Northern Ireland.
The European Union has not only given political support to achieving a peaceful solution in Ireland but it continues to provide financial support.
After my visit to Serbia I am firmly of the belief that what happened in the Balkans must never be allowed to happen again, and this is why we need a strong European Union. Some of those against the EU treaty speak about threats to our neutrality, but this is absolute rubbish: our neutrality is not put into question by the Lisbon treaty.
I would urge people to vote Yes to continue to build a peaceful Europe. - Yours, etc,
Cllr PATRICK McGOWAN (Fianna Fáil), Kilygordon, Lifford, Co Donegal.
Madam, - In the Referendum Commission's booklet on the Lisbon Treaty, I note that, under the heading "Proposed Changes - Role of National Parliaments", it states: "If the treaty enters into force then national parliaments - in Ireland's case, the Dáil and Seanad - will have eight weeks after the publication of an EU legislative proposal to vet that proposal and offer an opinion".
One wonders how the vetting and subsequent responses to such EU legislative proposals would be accommodated in the current Dáil and Seanad calendars? Shorter holidays? - Yours, etc,
CLARE BALFE, Innisfallen Parade, Dublin 7.
Madam, - In his opinion piece of May 21st, Joe Costello cites Article III of the Lisbon Treaty as advocating, among other good things, "solidarity and mutual respect among peoples, and fair trade. . .as well as the strict observance and the development of international law including respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter".
At least two problems immediately suggest themselves. Firstly, Mr Costello has misquoted the article, which calls, not for "fair trade", but for "free and fair trade". Given that the two adjectives contradict each other, and that the treaty's enshrinement of "undistorted competition" clarifies that so-called "free trade" is its priority, the misquotation suggests that Mr Costello is deliberately trying to deceive us.
Secondly, one of the most vital principles of the UN Charter is that of self-determination. Given that the EU, including Ireland, is actively conspiring with Israel and the US to suppress the Palestinian people's right to self-determination - a cause with which Mr Costello has in the past associated himself - it is clear that the Lisbon Treaty's claim to respect the charter is a lie.
But then deception and lies are the stock-in-trade both of this treaty and its defenders. - Yours, etc,
RAYMOND DEANE , Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.