MEPs show no respect for our referendum

SOME of your readers may know that on February 20 last the European Parliament approved the Lisbon treaty.

However, I suspect very few of them will know that, prior to that approval, Amendment 32 “to undertake to respect the outcome of the referendum in Ireland” was voted on.

This amendment was rejected by a large majority of MEPs (499 to 129, with 33 abstentions). However, most revealing of all is that one of our MEPs, Proinsías de Rossa, voted along with the majority not to respect the referendum held by his fellow Irish citizens.

And now we have his party, Labour, exhorting us all to vote in favour of the treaty. Why were these facts not reported in our media? Surely it would be of interest to your readers as to what’s going on in Brussels, what’s being discussed and voted on and how our MEPs are voting in our name?

For more than 30 years now, various surveys have highlighted the democratic deficit that prevails in Brussels and, as a result, we’re constantly told, the EU will gradually become more democratic.

But it’s not happening. Hence the great reluctance in Brussels to allow referenda in member states on the treaty.

We, the Irish electorate, deserve to be told what’s going on in Brussels in our name. Why is our media not telling us? How did each of our MEPs vote on this amendment? I am incensed that this is all going on behind my back not only on this issue, but on all issues.

Anne Scott

Dublin Road

Mullingar

Co Westmeath