The Defence of Democracy
Tomorrow Brian Cowen embarks for Brussels to engage in what some view as an impossible task, to articulate the Irish viewpoint, the reasoning behind our rejection of the Lisbon Treaty. The cynics amongst us despair of any coherent message emerging from the disparate sides that campaigned for what was a decisive no vote. However I would rebut such notions, our Taoiseach has many cards to bring to the table, the Irish people are clearly unwilling to relinquish our Commissioner, our permanent voice at Europe’s highest levels must remain. We must receive unambiguous assurances that our tax code is by no means threatened by the tax harmonisation agenda of Commissioner Kroes and others. The article concerning “enhanced co-operation” of member states, identified by groups such as Libertas and others as a potential legal device for harmonisation, must be clearly defined as excluding matters of taxation or removed. A fuller analysis of those areas we are relinquishing from the veto of our Government must be undertaken, QMV obviously leaves a nation such as ours at great disadvantage. Finally whilst our position of relative neutrality (we are not neutral from the perspective of international law) is assured by this treaty, many of the electorate seek assurances regarding the financial imposition which may be levied upon our nation for European military matters and more clarity must be sought in this matter. Iron cast guarantees will be the only means by which to convice the Irish people of any possible benifits in this treaty.
In today’s Independent David McWilliams clearly outlines the huge contribution made by our nation in the assimilation and economic assistance of our Eastern European partners whilst pointing to the general hypocrisy of the French and others whose closed borders policy has contributed little to progress in the Union. Ireland must be not be bullied or harrassed by such nations into embarking down a path from which there is no return, it is comical to think of the number of occassion prior to our referendum when the phrase “increased democracy and efficiency” was trotted out in lauding this treaty yet today with a clear democratic mandate, from a plebescite – the purest form of democracy, we are lectured as to how our vote is somehow “undemocratic,” impeding our partner nations. Whatever happened to the doctrine of unanimity? The principle of respecting the soverign decisions of each independent nation?
For the sake of us all, for the very future of our nation, Brian Cowen must stand firm and prevail against those who seek to undermine the stated will of our people.
Tags: Lisbon Treaty
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