Lisbon guarantees - A question of trust

A new independent organisation, Ireland for Europe, has been launched by the former President of the European Parliament, Pat Cox, calling on people to vote “Yes” in the forthcoming referendum on the Lisbon treaty.

The group has attracted the support of a range of celebrities, including Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney, the Edge from U2 and Irish soccer captain Robbie Keane.

On the other side, the People Before Profit Alliance will again campaign vigorously against the treaty. Many of the same arguments are likely to be rolled out again.

It is the same treaty that was rejected by the Irish electorate in the previous referendum. Fears were raised during that campaign that ratification would amount to the legalisation of abortion in Ireland, the end of military neutrality, and our autonomy on taxation policy.

The Government secured assurances from all of the heads of EU governments that the treaty does not impinge on Irish constitutional matters like the right to life, military neutrality or taxation policy.

If the Lisbon treaty is ratified, these assurances will be incorporated in a subsequent treaty.

It would seem, therefore, that the next campaign is likely to be more about whether we trust our EU colleagues.