Green Party urges Yes to Lisbon

Green Party leader John Gormley today asked Irish voters to say Yes to the Lisbon Treaty in the referendum on October 2 next.

Launching the party’s ‘Yes to Lisbon’ campaign in the Goethe Institute in Dublin, Mr Gormley said Ireland had much to gain by endorsing the Lisbon Treaty. He pointed to the European Union’s support for Ireland in its current financial difficulties as just one practical example.

“The Lisbon Treaty will also enable the EU to take much-needed common action on protecting the environment and cooperating in the fight against climate change and promoting energy security,” Mr Gormley said.

Green Party European Affairs spokesperson Senator Deirdre de Burca said the Lisbon Treaty would continue the EU’s role in helping to improve Irish workers’ rights, especially the rights of women workers.

“The EU has been responsible for Irish legislation on equal pay, non-discrimination and parental leave. The Lisbon Treaty builds on this by ensuring gender issues will be considered in all EU activities,” Senator de Burca said.

Mr Gormley said the Government had worked hard to address voters’ concerns and had received the support of other EU governments.

“We have secured important guarantees on taxation, defence and foreign policy, certain social issues and defence and foreign policy,” Mr Gormley said.