A Chara, - The Tanaiste's response (May 22nd) to Tom Crilly of the Workers' Party (May 18th) is astonishing. Instead of defending what the Treaty of Nice will really mean for Ireland, Ms Harney uses the emotive subject of Irish jobs to obscure the argument.
She then invites us to feel guilty about excluding the applicant members if the treaty is not ratified. Finally, she stoops to attacking the integrity of her opponents, again using the emotive language of poverty and oppression.
If a No vote would be so embarrassing, why does Ms Harney not spell out clearly, without the rhetoric, how ratification of the Treaty of Nice will serve Irish interests?
Can she tell us precisely which Irish interests will be served? Is it those of Irish citizens in general? Is it those of Irish minorities? Is it those of Irish business?
How does Ms Harney allay the fears of those who are concerned that the Treaty of Nice is part of a worrying trend whereby the larger states in the Union are increasingly pressing their case for a bigger share of power? Further, why can she not accept that one can be opposed to the Treaty of Nice, but in favour of enlargement and integration?
I advocate a No vote because I feel we should not allow our Government to substantially alter Ireland's influence in the EU without properly debating the consequences. - Yours, etc.,
Ciaran Mac Aonghusa, Baile an tSratha, Tir Chonaill.