Madam, - The space provided for this debate is a credit to The Irish Times and to its readers, as they continue to search for a valid and feasible way out of this dilemma.
The simple fact remains that, for reasons good, bad and irrelevant, a sufficient plurality of the Irish electorate rejected the Lisbon Treaty. It is also a fact, but rarely acknowledged, that this plurality of the electorate simultaneously rejected the strong advice of the vast majority of the Dáil deputies elected a little over a year ago.
Rather than seeking cunning strategems to overturn or bypass the rejection of the treaty, the focus should be on resolving this apparent contradiction. The only proper democratic response is to dissolve the Dáil and hold a general election. The election of a new Dáil and a new government would give fresh impetus to deal with the current economic downturn and provide an opportunity to ask the voters subsequently to reconsider their decision on the Lisbon Treaty. - Yours, etc,
PAUL HUNT, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, England.
Madam, - Owen Brooks (August 20th) says that Sinn Féin has been notably silent on what to do next following the Irish people's democratic decision to reject the Lisbon Treaty. Where has he been? Within days of the referendum Sinn Féin submitted to the Government a detailed series of recommended changes to the treaty. We are the only political party to have done so.
As a leading voice in the No campaign Sinn Féin also sought a meeting with the Taoiseach to discuss the proposals.
The party has since published its document "A better deal for Ireland and the EU" in French and English, and Gerry Adams presented it to the current EU President, Mr Sarkozy, when he met him last month.
In addition, Sinn Féin Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald met the French ambassador to Ireland to discuss issues such Ireland's EU Commissioner, democracy, the strengthening of key vetoes, the removal of all self-amending clauses, public services and workers' rights and a number of aspects of common foreign and defence policies.
It is widely accepted that the concerns raised during the Irish referendum on democracy, militarism, workers' rights and public services are not just of concern to the people of Ireland. They affect and animate people across Europe.
Despite the hand-wringing and procrastination, a better deal is of course possible. Politics is fluid and institutions and representatives alike exist only to serve their people. Stephen Collins's proposition that the Irish government should circumvent the Irish people's rejection of Lisbon by finding some mechanism to ratify the document via the Dáil was a stark illustration of how the integrity and vision of social democracy has been undermined over the past 30 years throughout Europe by a handful of opinion-formers and decision-makers.
Insulting, bullying and cajoling will not revive the Lisbon Treaty. A better deal for Ireland and the EU is possible. Can we please get on with securing it? - Yours, etc,
SINÉAD NÍ BHROIN, (Sinn Féin), Monkstown, Co Dublin.
Madam, - The Dutch were quite unable to comprehend the EU Constitutional Treaty when they voted against it. The Lisbon Treaty was just as complicated and equally unsuited for a referendum. Even some of our specialist parliamentarians struggled to understand its complexities.
In the Netherlands, a second referendum was therefore avoided by legal advice about constitutional elements remaining in the new treaty. It appears from the contributions to your paper that ratification in parliament and advice by your Supreme Court would also be possible. - Yours, etc,
PETER VAN LEEUWEN, Waddinxveen, The Netherlands.
Madam, - The Government and the main Opposition parties did not win the Lisbon Treaty referendum, but neither did the No-Nos - they prevented ratification but did not obtain renegotiation, which is possible only if others are willing to negotiate.
Perhaps the only way out of the present dilemma is to borrow the GAA's invention called "qualifiers" - second-chance matches for defeated teams. These could take the form of tug-of-war contests held on the great plain of Croke, until one team remains undefeated and its position on the treaty becomes the definitive result. Readers currently sheltering in seaside bungalows and caravans are invited to pass the time by drawing up the rules and by selecting and matching up the protagonists - eg, Fianna Fáil v the People's Movement, Labour v Libertas (no Americans allowed), Alliance for Europe v Sinn Féin, Ibec v Cóir, etc.
A multi-denominational ecumenical service could precede the contests and at the conclusion Carla Sarkozy could present her latest recording to members of the winning team. - Yours, etc,
MYLES McSWINEY, Cricklewood Park, Belfast 9.