Madam, – Congratulations to Kieran Sullivan (August 11th) for at last highlighting the real dilemma in the current Lisbon Treaty debate.
Mr Sullivan’s conclusion that “one can only conclude that the text is so vague as to be interpreted in any way the reader chooses” goes right to the heart of the issue.
Most reasonable people will of course agree that of necessity, any document or agreement between 27 different individuals – or, as in this case, countries – must be somewhat vague in order to reach agreement.
However, it behoves the many prominent politicians on both sides of the debate to cease trying to blackmail and bully us into voting either Yes or No and explain to us exactly who will be involved and how the treaty document will be eventually interpreted.
It is, after all, their elected duty. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – From the viewpoint in England, it is scandalous that the Irish people are being told by the power-hungry, smug, EU elite to vote again on the treaty that they have already rejected, with the clear aim of getting them to vote meekly in favour of the treaty this time.
The near identical EU constitution was heavily voted down by the peoples of France and the Netherlands, and all measures of British public opinion show a huge demand for a referendum (and that if there were one there would be a No to the treaty).
At this moment it seems that the Irish people, uniquely, have a voice to speak up for a more democratic Europe – a Europe of independent nations and peoples – and not a centralised super-state with servile populations. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – The No camp must be getting very worried if arguments about “excess immigration” and “race” are being bandied about (Liam Ó Géibheannaigh, August 11th). Excess immigration represents yet another empty threat from the No side.
The majority of immigrants who have come to Ireland in recent years were attracted by our booming economy, which, we shouldn’t forget, needed an influx of workers. These economic immigrants, many of them highly skilled and highly qualified, accepted the lower-paid work of the Celtic Tiger economy that we no longer wanted.
Now that the Tiger has lost its roar, most of these immigrants will go elsewhere, or stay at home. Many have already left here. Furthermore, our membership of the EU’s “empire of open borders” was a crucial factor in Ireland’s transformation from an island of emigration to an island of immigration. Which would Mr Ó Géibheannaigh prefer? The national culture which he is so intent on protecting appears to be one of gross ingratitude towards the immigrants who have been an economic and cultural asset and towards the European idea. – Yours, etc,