Senator should make her case to Government

SENATOR Deirdre de Búrca of the Green party calls on the State, by which I take it she means the Government, to “put an end to this highly unsatisfactory practice of providing citizens with a crash course in EU affairs” through referenda every once in while (May 21).

While I agree with her, I must point out that she is in fact a government senator. Her party is in coalition with the very parties who are currently denying the public free access to the very Lisbon Treaty on which we are expected to vote soon. The Government should be ensuring that all members of the public have full and free access to the treaty so they can read and debate the issues affecting this State.

Issues of genuine concern include neutrality, public services, workers’ rights and democratic accountability.