We’re in no position to dictate to others

IT WAS reported recently that Patricia McKenna has called on Taoiseach Brian Cowen to demand a halt to the ratification process of the Lisbon Treaty by other member states, in the same way that the EU constitution was stalled immediately after the French and Dutch referendum defeats.

Firstly, it is entirely incorrect to say the EU constitution ground to a halt after the French and Dutch rebuffs.

In fact, Latvia, Cyprus, Malta, Luxembourg and Belgium continued their ratification procedures to their conclusion, with the Belgians finally ratifying the constitution in February 2006, a full eight months after the referendum defeats.

Ms McKenna has been quick to decry the so-called bullying tactics of other member states, and yet now she is calling on the Taoiseach to bully other sovereign countries into abandoning their own ratification processes. Does her political hypocrisy know no bounds?

Ireland is in no position to ‘demand’ anything of any other member state, just as they have no right to demand anything of us.

Who are we to dictate how sovereign governments of other nations conduct their affairs?

Just as we would not tolerate such orders from them, they should not have to tolerate them from us.

Barry Walsh

Brooklawn

Clontarf

Dublin 3