Falling for the ‘Brussels buzz’

ARE we a nation of suckers being brainwashed and blindly led up the garden path by hard-necked bureaucrats controlling the creeping EU giant?

Democratic structures may still look in place, but they are rapidly ceasing to have any function.

According to Italy’s Interior Minister Guiliano Amato, he and other EU leaders are producing a new treaty to replace the rejected EU constitution.

Despite the fact that it is sure to include dozens of ‘tiny’ new rulings, they describe the changes in the new treaty as “few and far between, and more cosmetic than real.”

The so-called treaty is harmlessly referred to as “absolutely unreadable, a typical Brussels treaty, nothing new and no need for a referendum”.

But in plain language it means only on thing — a transfer of more power to the EU and the imposition of new laws on Ireland. As with voters across Europe, we will be denied the right to exercise the franchise.

Highly-paid ministers from the smaller states are quickly tutored and indoctrinated in the ‘Brussels buzz’ at the behest of the EU’s mighty executive.

Our ministers are no better, mere EU employees, happy to increase EU power and impose its decisions rather than seek what is best for the welfare of their own people. And all of it is carried out under the illusion of democracy.

Now the EU’s most powerful figure, President José Manuel Barrosa, has shocked leaders everywhere by describing the EU as an “empire” before quickly correcting himself by calling it “the first non-imperial empire”.

Will we have a say in electing the new ‘emperor’ or, in the midst of our temporary Celtic Tiger euphoria, will we even care? The blame for all this lies principally with our Government ministers and the media. Rather than acting as EU stooges and spindoctors, they should inform the people and fight for the protection of our democracy. Too many ministers are finding their hands are already tied when attempting to legislate or protect citizens’ welfare.

How right the ‘No to Nice’ campaign slogan was — ‘You will lose power, money and freedom.’

James A Gleeson

‘The Grove’

Thurles

Co Tipperary