Sir, - In his analysis of the Irish Times/MRBI poll on the Treaty of Nice, Prof Richard Sinnott (The Irish Times, May 19th) notes that a "lack of understanding of the issues is rampant". This is hardly surprising, given the concerted effort being made to limit our understanding of the treaty. One of the poll questions is itself an example of pro-Nice deviousness:
"The EU has established the military Rapid Reaction Force for peacekeeping and peace enforcement in the European area. Do you think that Ireland should participate?"
This is grossly misleading and calculated to take advantage of our proper pride in the Irish Army's past record as peacekeepers. In fact the European Rapid Reaction Force (ERRF) is designed to operate up to 4,000 kilometres (2,500 miles) from its Brussels headquarters, taking it well beyond the European area.
Moreover, the list of equipment pledged to the 60,000strong force by the participating countries includes: from the UK - 72 combat planes, 18 warships, 1 aircraft carrier and 2 nuclear-powered submarines; from France - 75 combat planes, 12 warships including a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier; from Turkey - a squadron of F16 fighter-bombers.
Forces engaged in "humanitarian and rescue tasks" or "peacekeeping" do not need such equipment. It would, however, be very useful for another of the "Petersberg Tasks" - "peace-making". As John Bruton observed in the Dail on October 22nd, 1999, "Peacemaking means imposing, by the use of force, peaceful conditions under the terms laid down by the peacemaker. It is very difficult to distinguish that from war-making. . ."
Already, as described in annexes 1-7 of the Presidency Report on European Security and Defence Policy, presented to the Nice EU Council, complex military/bureaucratic support structures are in place. One annexe deals with "permanent arrangements for EU/NATO consultation and co-operation". Under Article 29 of our Constitution, those structures and the policies they promote wil1 become part of Ireland's Constitution if the Nice Treaty, in its present form, is ratified.
The treaty makes no provision, at either national or Euro-Parliamentary level, for parliamentary control of EU military policy. This is motive enough for Ireland to vote No, thereby prompting a Nice rethink - which would be welcomed by those millions of EU citizens who feel uneasy about Nice as is. Pro-Nice assertions that a No vote would "humiliate" Ireland, and eventually debilitate our trade with newcomers to the EU, are typical of the devices now being used to limit our understanding of this treaty.
President Chirac, unlike our political leaders, made no attempt at Nice to disguise the purpose of the ERRF: to protect EU interests. Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, took candour even further on February 13th when he declaimed to the European Parliament: "Are we clear that we want to build something that can aspire to be a world power?"
Evidently it is not enough, in the 21st century, to have a prosperous European Economic Union. The "big" EU leaders yearn for "world power" status; therefore Europe must have their own army. Mr Brian Cowen, in his interview with Vincent Browne (The Irish Times, May 19th), stated that "we are not involved in NATO". Yet our Minister for Foreign Affairs must know as well as I do that now we are doubly involved in NATO - through Partership for Peace and through the ERRF.
Thus it is absurd to assert that Ireland's ERRF troops will confine themselves to UN-approved interventions. The ERRF will be free to act independently of the UN, either alone or in co-operation with NATO.
Equally absurd and tendentious is Mr Cowen's assurance that "the participation which is envisaged for us in EU peacekeeping. . .is a case-by-case sovereign decision for the Government". We Irish are not notable for withstanding pressure in this arena; can anyone imagine an Irish Government saying to Brussels: `'Sorry, no! We don't approve of the operation - won't help"?
Before June 7th, Ireland's voters must do their Nice homework - must concentrate on this immensely important referendum instead of devoting so much attention to the trivial contretemps occasioned by Mr Ahern's personal relationships. - Yours, etc.,
Dervla Murphy, Lismore, Co Waterford.