Treaty brings fears for public services

There are fears that Ireland will lose control of public services like water, gas and electricity if the Nice Treaty is passed.

The "Alliance against Nice" is urging the public to check the small print in relation to the laws that govern privatisation.

They say "Article 133" paves the way for the wholesale privatisation of all state services resulting in huge increases in charges to consumers.

Barry Finnegan of the “Article 133” Information Group, says the public will be powerless to do anything.

"It completely changes the way we conduct our relationship with the World Trade Organisation.

"There's a large document called GATS to do with the WTO that is all about privatisation and deregulation. We, the European public, are not allowed to see these documents.

"If Nice comes in we will never get to see them until after the privatisations are done, and if Nice doesn't get in we will get a chance to see them and the European Parliament will have a chance to discuss it."