Comments on: Thanks, but no thanks

By: The Lisbon Treaty: Too long; didn’t read

The Lisbon Treaty: Too long; didn’t read — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:34:51 +0000

[...] Thanks, but no thanks [...]

By: One Man

One Man — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 23:27:22 +0000

Sir,

I’m a portuguese and I will not be asked about the constitutional treaty. The prime-minister of my country did not keep his promise, that he would make a referendum. So, I decided to take this action:

http://notolisbontreaty.blogsome.com

I ask you only to disseminate this blog among your friends, readers and fellow-bloggers.
I’m not anti-europeist, but I believe Europe must be built with the agrrement and the cooperation of their citizens.
Thank you for you time and attention,
OM

By: gaye

gaye — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 23:09:21 +0000

Hi Grandad. Loved this post. Absolutely. I was speaking my mind about EU whilst in Ireland and some people told me I had EU-phobia. Uhm… Who wouldn’t be afraid, when creation of an “UBER” EU is the ultimate goal for the bigguns.
There is another reason why Ireland should not vote No… Because otherwise she won’t be allowed to EVER enter the wonderful European Song Contest. EVER. Can’t be having that now can we?

I am keeping my fingers crossed, that a NO will come out of this, that Ireland will speak up for herself, and for those others whose rights to speak up for themselves have been robbed of them.

PS: Don’t mind my rant though, I am just jealous cuz Turkey isn’t (and will never be) part of the UBER EU.

By: Gerry

Gerry — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 01:48:53 +0000

Point taken. I hope many citizens like you have bothered to think about the issues. Sadly there seems to be mental laziness among many Irish voters, who just want to think about tv soaps and weekend sporting events. So again I say good on all you voters who have sat down and used the grey matter in your heads and are going out to vote. Many exiles like myself and many citizens in Europe are interested in how you vote. (Ha ha, I haven’t told you how I’d like to vote myself, have I?)

By: Grandad

Grandad — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 00:35:03 +0000

Tom – Of course I respect your decision, but I am a bit confused? You say that the comments here helped in making your decision? I’m just intrigued as to which comments decided you.

I know we have the opt out clause, but I think you’ll agree that the chances of that happening are remote to zero.

Gerry – I agree completely. The one advantage of having all the parties [bar SF] calling for a yes vote is that party politics is excluded from the debate. While I have no trust at all in the government, that is not why I came to my current position. I am came here through the thought processes I set out above. When I talk of mistrust, I mean mistrust in Europe and the powers in Brussels. I refer to my post a couple of weeks ago

By: Gerry

Gerry — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 00:00:48 +0000

I can’t vote because of where I am at the moment. It seems to me that people should vote Yes or No according to their impression of the Lisbon Treaty and the way they feel that the EU is going, not according to what they think of Brian Cowen and his government.
Whether the result is Yes or No, many citizens in other EU states will agree or disagree with the result: the external response won’t be one-sided. Good luck to all those Irish punters who get out and vote on the day!

By: Tom Gleeson

Tom Gleeson — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 21:34:20 +0000

Just to let you know, after a day and a half of reflection and research and in no small part due to the comments on this blog, I’ve come to my decision; I’m voting Yes, a resounding Yes.

No, I’m not stupid, nor are those of you who will vote No; if I’d had been too tired or lazy or on holidays this weekend, I too might have followed my gut and voted No (but more likely, just not voted at all) instead I’m following my head (and my wallet) and voting YES.

I know the original Treaty of Rome we signed up to when we joined in the 70s was sold as purely economic; but the reality was that “Europe” was always a political journey and we most definitely signed up to the journey with Maastricht and the single currency.

Remember we’re not like a North Dakota, we can leave this Union if we wish (as Greenland did in the 80s) and restore ourselves to what ever level of complete sovereignty we can enforce or afford.

Tom

By: FutureTaoiseach

FutureTaoiseach — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 18:01:51 +0000

There’s a new poll out in the Sunday Business Post from Red C tomorrow showing the result on a knife-edge:

Yes 42% (+1)
No 39% (+6)

(Those certain to vote i.e. 50%)

YEs 46%
No 37%
DK 17%

Clearly the DKs will decide it. But one word of caution for the yes people – 6/7s of the DKs who have decided since last time have gone to the no’s. If that trend continues it will be 51-49 no.

And remember, the last poll before Nice one had a bigger yes lead of 45-28.

By: Henry Barth

Henry Barth — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 17:40:12 +0000

All you need know about the Lisbon Treaty is that as a treaty it supercedes the Irish Constiutution.

A treaty is the “supreme law of the land.”

Same as in the US, which is why the US is shy about joining certain treaties such as the Kyoto one.

Interestingly, there has yet to be a treaty amonmg the countries involved ending World War II. Part of the legalistic problem is the legality of the present German government, but that’s another matter.

By: Nonny

Nonny — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 14:56:03 +0000

Honest to goodness, I think a yes vote would be dreadful. This Treaty was formally know as the EU Constitution was it not? The one, which the people of France and Holland rejected. Some minor adjustments were made, largely ceremonial I might add and the Treaty was given and nice new name, the Lisbon Treaty was then passed in Holland and France without referendum. Do people not think this odd? Do the want to lose their right to vote? Do the want to sell out on BUNREACHT NA hÉIREANN. Our beloved constitution which despite it’s many failing had served the people our Ireland with fairness and equality that some of our EU brothers and sister states have never had the privilege off. In my heart of hearts I would like to honour the men and women of Ireland who gave their lives for our freedom. I am not going to sell out on them and hand our country over to the mercy of Europe. But the biggest responsibility a person has is probably to their children and indeed peers and I for one will not be supporting a Treaty were the lives of my friends and family will suffer. Were small countries like ours will become insignifigant. They will not care that unemployment rises, that higher interest rates means their inflation stays low but Irish people will struggle to get a home and even if they do manage they will not be able to afford repayments. They will have the final say on domestic rule, they will have the final say on the tax incentives Ireland needs to create to encourage foreign investment. Ask yourselves this, what in the name of God is in it for Germany or France by helping us? Whatever hope we have of making a difference now, we will have no hope when the likes of Germany have twice as many votes as us. VOTE NO!!