Sinn Féin ‘lying about European Constitution’

Ann Cahill, Europe Correspondent, Strasbourg

The parliament is expected to vote today to support the constitution and spend E340,000 on an information campaign ahead of referenda in nine states.

The party, with two MEPs, says the constitution is militarising the EU and trying to turn it into a superpower. It also objects to the parliament taking sides and says it will interfere with a free debate.

Fine Gael MEP Gay Mitchell said the party’s objections were: “The ultimate joke. They need lessons in democracy in practice and theory.”

The leader of the Green group in the Parliament, Danny Cohn-Bendit, said Sinn Féin was using arguments that have nothing to do with the constitution.

“It’s a lie what they say about the constitution,” the German MEP added.

Their arguments about militarisation did not hold up, he said.

“You can row to south east Asia and in 10 years time you can get there... in a global world Europe must have the ability to help in a humanitarian way”, he said, referring to the fact that the EU did not have the transport to deliver aid.

As was seen in Bosnia and more in Darfur the EU needed to be able to intervene militarily if necessary.

“You cannot complain that the US is dominating the world and not take your responsibilities seriously. If you do not take your responsibilities, then the US will dominate,” he said.

He urged the Greens in Ireland to support the constitution and said he believed their objections were to do with their fear of losing voters to Sinn Féin.

Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald said her party had serious concerns. “These concerns are shared by many people across Ireland. Is Mr Cohn-Bendit seriously suggesting that Sinn Féin does not have the right to hold opinions? Is he suggesting that we do not have the right to raise and debate these legitimate concerns in the public arena?”

A date has not been set for Ireland’s referendum, which must be held before October 2006. All EU members must agree the constitution before it can be adopted.