Madam, - The Taoiseach has agreed with President Sarkozy at the recent European Council summit to discuss the drafting of opt-outs to the Lisbon Treaty, specifically in line with the concrete proposal I made earlier this month.
I proposed an extended plebiscite on the Lisbon Treaty in Ireland where we would have a constitutional referendum on Yes or No to the Lisbon Treaty, while on the same day holding consultative referenda on key opt-in/opt-out issues such as the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, European security and defence policy and other potentially sensitive areas for Ireland. In proposing a referendum of this nature, I am attempting to isolate the crucial thematic areas in need of rational and neutral debate in Ireland.
If, in the extended referendum, Irish voters were to opt out of these sample areas, the Government could then seek a separate agreement at the European Council to be signed by all 27 member states.
This move would be similar to the precedent of the Edinburgh Agreement sought by the Danish government at the European Council in December 1992 which granted Denmark four exemptions to the Maastricht Treaty. This allowed them to ratify the treaty overall. With this plan, member states who have already ratified the Lisbon Treaty would not have to do so again.
This extended plebiscite would offer the Irish electorate a choice as to the extent of the role they want to play within the EU.
In addition, I support the reiteration of declarations and protocols preserving Ireland's tax position and our stance on ethical issues such as abortion. Reform of the Irish Referendum Commission is also urgently required to strengthen the capacity of the commission to counteract lies and misinformation put forward by both Yes and No sides in the run-up to a vote. We need to be at the heart of Europe now more than ever, in times of financial turmoil. The value of being a member of the EU and the eurozone is almost incalculable.
We need only cast a glance at our North Atlantic neighbour Iceland, a country teetering on the verge of bankruptcy.
Iceland is now scrambling to join the EU, having previously rejected the notion of such accession. Ireland would be in a similarly desperate situation were it not for our membership of the EU and the eurozone.
The recent Irish Government-commissioned report analysing the June referendum result stated that 70 per cent of voters feel that Irish interests are best served by being fully involved in the EU. 63 per cent of No voters believe the EU to be a good thing.
These inclinations show that Irish people want Ireland to remain a key part of the development of the EU. A second referendum under the conditions I have just outlined will allow the Irish electorate to retain this important engagement. - Yours, etc,
COLM BURKE,
MEP for Ireland South,
20, Washington Street,
Cork.
Madam, - Dermot Sweeney (Letters October 21st) should be wary. We did not believe the doomsayers who warned us that a vote against the Lisbon Treaty would lead to the ruination of the country - apparently our No vote affected the entire world economy, so rather than exaggerating the effects, they were putting it mildly. And there we were, blaming the bankers! - Yours, etc,
RONAN CAHILL,
Ranelagh,
Dublin 6.