DANA ROSEMARY SCALLON, MEP,
Madam, - I have repeatedly called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen, clearly to state the Government's and Ireland's position on the Convention document on the Future of Europe. It is no longer acceptable that the Government remains silent on the future directions of a constitutional Europe. It is time that our Government and Irish political representatives in Europe clearly state the direction they see Europe is going in.
To remain silent at this time will allow those seeking a political Europe with its own constitution to set the pace. Ireland will then be reduced to accepting, not influencing, what has already been agreed with no account of what the people want.
I am deeply concerned that instead of clearly stating Ireland's position with regard to an EU constitution and the legal status of the Charter of Fundamental Rights, Mr Cowen sidesteps the entire issue. Already Mr. Giscard d'Estaing, the president of the Convention on the Future of Europe, has clearly stated his desire for a European constitution and has also removed the option of a democratic EU-wide referendum for the citizens of the member states.
I welcome the fact that accession countries will also play a part in determining the outcome of a final convention document. However, it is time for honesty and clear leadership if Ireland is to maintain its position as a sovereign constitutional nation at the heart of the Europe. The Irish people deserve to know where their political leaders are taking them and that those same political leaders will uphold our Irish constitution and sovereignty.
The Irish people also deserve to know if the Government intends to call for and support a Europe of independent sovereign nations or if it intends to ditch our Constitution and pursue a political Europe agenda. Speak up now because the "building blocks" for an EU constitution are being finalised between now and January 2003. - Yours, etc.,
DANA ROSEMARY SCALLON, MEP,
Colonial Buildings,
Eglinton Street,
Galway.