Sinn Féin hits out at EU constitution

Irish interests are being overlooked as Taoiseach Bertie Ahern presses other member states to endorse his flawed plan for a European Union Constitution, it was claimed today.

While EU leaders also debated in Brussels who should be the next European Commission president, Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald said people should not lose sight of the fact that the proposed constitution did not address the democratic deficit in Europe.

“Much of the focus, thus far, has been on who will take over as Commission president, yet fundamental and far-reaching decisions will be made today and in the short weeks ahead to agree a legally binding constitution for the EU,” the Dublin MEP said.

“This is not a charter for an EU of equals.

“It does not redress the democratic deficit as we promised it would.

“Regardless of what Fine Gael MEP Gay Mitchell has said in his election literature, it does not afford special recognition to the neutral states nor protection for Irish neutrality.

“There is a lot wrong with this draft constitution.”

Mr Ahern’s Government, which holds the presidency of the European Union, hopes to persuade other heads of state to agree a constitution.

However a bid last December to strike a deal stalled over objections to the voting system used to take key decisions in the Council of Ministers.

Spain and Poland were particularly concerned.

The Irish Presidency was putting forward today a compromise proposal aimed at allaying small and medium sized member states’ concerns that they will be eclipsed by the voting strength of larger nations.

Heads of state were also considering who will succeed Romano Prodi as European Commission president.

Among those tipped for the job were former Munster MEP and European Parliament president Pat Cox, Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker and European Commissioner Antonio Vitorino.

Mr Ahern was also mooted as a possible candidate but was believed to favour nominating Prime Minister Verhofstadt.

Ms McDonald attacked the Government today for failing to properly discuss the constitution with the public and accused it of losing sight of Ireland’s interests during the negotiations.

The Sinn Féin MEP said: “The potential international prestige value of leading successful negotiations has eclipsed any sense on the Government’s part that the Irish delegates are responsible to look out for and advance Ireland’s interests during the negotiations process.

“What has the Government achieved for Ireland in the negotiations?

“What have they given away in the interests of not upsetting the more powerful states?

“These are the real relevant questions that we need to ask and to which we should demand answers from Bertie and his team.”