A chara, – Jim Higgins MEP wrote an enlightening but horrifying letter (July 29th). He states that without the EU and the euro we would be in a significantly worse situation, economically. This tenuous assertion is based on a comparison with Iceland, whose similarity with Ireland rests on sharing six letters and being an island. But I wonder does he realise the irony of the other assertions he makes? He claims an Irish rejection of the Lisbon Treaty would be a rejection of further integration, which is wanted by the majority of the member-states.
This is misleading on two counts: firstly, when he says member-states, he refers to the representatives of those states. The states themselves comprise citizens who have not been asked. Secondly, the idea of further integration has been agreed at every EU treaty and only takes place with the agreement of all member-states: all or none.
Lisbon changes this by allowing groups of states to move ahead in some areas, and also ensuring that the Oireachtas will not have to ask the Irish electorate in future whether we wish for further integration through transfer of competencies and changes to qualified majority voting.
Mr Higgins also claims that with 12 MEPs out of 736 we need to use every ounce of influence we have. Are we not shooting ourselves in the foot by agreeing to significantly reduce our voting weight at the expense of the larger countries? And for citizens of Ireland, there is no worse path than removing the only say we have in determining the future shape of Europe and Ireland.
We have much to gain by remaining fully committed to the European Union, we are all committed to being part of the European Union, but not necessarily to the European “project” – a project of political elites, which is increasingly at odds with what the people of Europe actually desire. – Is mise,
DUALTA ROUGHNEEN,
Ballinamore,
Kiltimagh, Co Mayo.
A chara, – I agree with Jim Higgins’s letter (July 29th) whole-heartedly. I believe we were right to reject the Lisbon Treaty when it was first put to us, but after much consideration I now believe that with the retention of our commissioner and our ability to determine our own tax rates and our own stance on such issues as abortion, we should answer in the affirmative on this occasion, concerns surrounding our fishing industry notwithstanding.
Having worked in mainland Europe for some years I am very aware of the tremendous respect and in some places genuine affection for this country and its people. By rejecting the treaty for a second time we would be putting this at considerable risk.
I would also like to see real leadership on the Yes side of this issue which has yet to manifest itself. One cannot help but suspect that some of our respected public representatives are at the very least sitting firmly on the fence and in one or two cases perhaps even engaging in a game of bluff. It is not a pretty sight. – Is mise,
JIM McHALE,
Monastery Drive,
Clondalkin, Dublin 22.