Preparing for European treaty vote

A chara,- With Sinn Féin, Republican Sinn Féin, the Socialist Party, the Socialist Workers Party, the Peoples Movement, United…

A chara,- With Sinn Féin, Republican Sinn Féin, the Socialist Party, the Socialist Workers Party, the Peoples Movement, United Left Alliance and Nigel Farages UKIP all encouraging me to vote No in the referendum on the European stability treaty I have just made up my mind: I will be voting Yes. – Is mise,

BEAIRTLE O CONGHAILE,

Cúirt an Choláiste,

Dún Dealgan, Co Lú.

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Sir, –   No matter how  we vote in the upcoming referendum, this State is going to continue to be in economic chaos until such time as world leaders convene a world conference to discuss the need to return to the gold standard   and do so.

Certainty, stability  and    investor confidence may be restored to the marketplace temporarily  with    our      present fiat money but if we seek long-term solutions to our economic woes we must begin the debate on returning to the gold standard.  Meanwhile, I am going to vote Yes in the      referendum because it will delay the world wide depression which is inevitable if we continue    our present  use  of fiat money and  as the United States and  Great Britain are doing just “printing new money” at will. – Yours, etc,

VINCENT J LAVERY,

Coliemore Road,

Dalkey, Co Dublin.

Sir, – Isn’t it odd that the Government wants us to vote for a treaty which it has no intention of keeping? As I understand it, it has no intension of keeping to the deficit rules for the next few years. – Yours, etc,

JIM FITZSIMONS,

Harold’s Cross Road,

Dublin 6W.

Sir, – The Government’s call for a Yes vote for this fiasco treaty, the contents of which has yet to be agreed between Germany and France, amounts to an insult to the people, gross negligence and an historically unprecedented cowardly surrender.

It is clear now to everyone, at last, that the EU is in reality Germany and France – or maybe just Germany. The Government’s call has become a threat or demand that we sign away our freedom in favour of what is really an unknown treaty.

The people are already terrified to the extent that their greatest fear now is fear. When Declan Ganley warned that we were voting away our sovereignty in the last Lisbon Referendum he was accused of everything, but especially scaremongering.

The accusations were all lies and now there is a widespread admission that he was right all along and that our sovereignty is gone. Ironically, our salvation as a sovereign people rests in the immediate collapse of the euro zone which by all accounts is now inevitable. – Yours, etc,

JOHN FERRY,

Marymount, Sligo.

Sir, – I have no doubt that a significant number of No campaigners want Ireland to exit the euro zone as a precursor to leaving the EU. It would be consistent with their opposition over the years to every single referendum on Europe and, more honest if they said so explicitly.

It is inconceivable in the present volatile situation that a No vote in Ireland would not have a huge and possibly fatal impact on the fate of the euro. Whether the No supporters intend it or not, a No vote on May 31st will be seen internationally, and certainly by the financial markets, as a rejection of the euro and not just as a rejection of the stability treaty.

Leaving the euro would result not only in Austerity Plus but also in high inflation, resulting in dramatic price increases over a wide range of everyday goods, from coffee and tea to shoes and clothes, to washing machines and foreign travel. Of course there would be some gains from tourism and exports, but this would not benefit the domestic economy to an equivalent extent.

The No promoters are asking the Irish people to dice with disaster. Voting Yes isn’t the whole answer to the present crisis, but at least it isn’t gambling with our short and long-term future. – Yours, etc,

SHANE MOLLOY,

Bushy Park Road,

Rathgar, Dublin 6.