Madam, - I have read the proposed draft conclusions of the European summit on the Lisbon Treaty ratification process (December 12th).
As a "Yes" voter in the first referendum, I now have grave concerns about the content of Annex 11(2) which states:
"Ensuring that the terms of the Lisbon Treaty will not affect the continued application of the provisions of the Irish Constitution in relation to the right to life, education and the family."
One interpretation of this wording could mean that we in Ireland will never get full equality for same-sex couples or indeed legalised civil partnership. If this is the case, I shall be voting No in the second referendum, no question. - Yours, etc,
Madam, - Given the scale of the recession and recent cutbacks, plus the money that had to be forked out to save the pig industry, has a cost been put on the rerunning of the Lisbon Treaty vote? Presumably there will be a big advertising effort and thousands of leaflets to pay for as well as the actual costs of simply having the vote itself. If the Government are not absolutely certain they can win the rerun, is this something the nation can afford?
It would be hard to justify the waste of taxpayers' money on this simply to confirm the Irish public really meant No when they said it the first time.
Whilst I voted Yes and wanted to give it a chance, it is disappointing that the European response to the people's will yet again is simply to try and ignore it. I'm not sure that I could vote the same way again on that point of principle and I suspect others may feel the same. I hope we do not see extra cutbacks as a result of Lisbon Two, but I fear this will be the reality, and it may all be for nothing. - Yours, etc,
Madam, - Viscount Étienne Davignon and Giles Merritt (Opinion, December 11th) suggest that "the Irish Government should foresee a procedure that, irrespective of the outcome , allows other member states to implement the essential parts of the treaty".
It is to be hoped that they have not forgotten Article 48 of the present Treaty on European Union, which is legally binding on all member-states: "The government of any Member State or the Commission may submit to the Council proposals for the amendment of the Treaties on which the Union is founded. . . The amendments shall enter into force after being ratified by all the Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements."
Unless the other member states were prepared to simply tear up the present treaties, there could be no possible procedure which would allow them to implement any of the amendments agreed at Lisbon without the consent of the Irish Government and people. - Yours, etc,
Madam, - I suppose in these straitened times it is no surprise to see the European political elite offering the Irish electorate a Henry Fordesque democratic choice : You can vote anyway you like provided it's Yes! - Yours, etc,
Madam, - Is there any possibility that we could hold monthly general elections until we get the result that we want, namely to get rid of the current incompetent Government? - Yours, etc,