Alliance launches no campaign against Lisbon II referendum

A FRESH assault against the Government’s second attempt to pass the Lisbon treaty has been launched by an alliance of no campaigners.

The coalition of 15 groups driving the anti-Lisbon camp admitted the Government’s performance and the economic crisis will feature in their campaign.

But they expressed concern that their arguments would not be aired following a recent ruling which frees broadcasters from having to cover both sides of the campaign equally.

MEP Joe Higgins claimed yesterday that if the treaty was passed on October 2, it could lead to a degradation of public services and the neglect of workers’ rights.

“The Lisbon treaty dilutes very strongly the democratic control by the people of the member states over critical policy issues,” he said.

Mr Higgins claimed a yes vote would mean services like health and education would be run for profit.

“If it is passed, the EU Commission would uphold the right of big business to profit from public services, over and above the rights of workers to take action to defend these services.”

A yes vote would also boost the power of more influential military states in intervening abroad, claimed the Socialist Party MEP.

The no campaign coalition includes Sinn Féin, the People Before Profit group, trade union Unite, anti-war movements, European anti-Lisbon groups such as Attac Austria and Attac France as well as smaller republican and socialist groups.

Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald criticised recent guarantees given to Ireland safeguarding tax and neutrality. “These ‘guarantees’ are nothing more than a series of clarifications of some aspects of the Lisbon Treaty. They do not alter the text of the treaty in any way nor do they change the impact that the treaty will have on Ireland and the EU. Their legal status is irrelevant.”

People Before Profit Cllr Brid Smith said it would do nothing to help Ireland out of its economic crisis.

Trade union Unite dismissed claims by the yes side that workers rights would be fundamentally protected. “Should the proposed renamed EU Constitution come into force, we would rely on the European Court of Justice to rule in favour of workers if a dispute arose between them and their government,” said regional secretary Jimmy Kelly.

Responding to the claims, Fianna Fáil’s Pat the Cope Gallagher said the Government had sought to address concerns expressed by voters. Ireland had the right to appoint one member to the EU Commission at all times, its neutrality and taxation was protected and sections in the Constitution regarding the right to life would remain unaffected.