Education and not coercion key to Lisbon vote

THE Irish are very good at achieving the impossible when the situation is critical.

When it comes to day-to-day management, being democratic and looking after basic necessities, the political Irish are third world.

Our politicians, through sheer neglect and wanton disrespect, managed to lose the referendum on the Lisbon treaty, despite having played a significant role in its formulation. Now, having pulled the guarantees rabbit out of the hat, they are about to put the matter to the people again. The logic for doing so is simple – Ireland will be placed at a disadvantage unless it proves itself to be a team player in the EU and ratify the change of rules the governments of the other 26 have agreed.

The guarantees scotch the rumours and myths that appear to have influenced the majority of voters who said no to the treaty last year. But the over-riding reason people gave for voting no was they did not know or understand the treaty. They could not judge for themselves because educationally they are not equipped to do so, and did not trust their politicians sufficiently to accept their word.

The response of the business and political class has been to organise a massive civil society campaign in favour of a yes vote for the second referendum this October. However the danger is that the public will feel they are caught somewhere between blackmail and coercion. They may vote yes, but fail to be convinced about the EU and become willing followers of British-type scepticism.

Since the Lisbon treaty will mean a lot more Europe in people’s everyday lives, the long-term answer must be to educate people about the EU, and involve them in the process of selecting those who represent us in Brussels. Unfortunately the Oireachtas sub-committee on the EU when it came to education suggested little more than that French would be taught in secondary schools. But as in the US and most other EU countries, children must be taught from an early age the simple and rudimentary facts about the EU.

The Government has promised to become more transparent and discuss legislation in the Oireachtas before taking decisions on it in the EU. If they are serious, they must end the political cronyism to which the national interest is regularly sacrificed when it comes to EU appointments.

In the next few months Ireland must nominate a new commissioner.

Political expediency usually decides who gets this most important job. Instead, a number of candidates should be put forward for the job. As happens with the European Parliament and the commissioners, there should be a televised public hearing where members of the Oireachtas query them on their suitability. If deputies vote along party lines for someone who is manifestly not the best person, the voters should hold them responsible.

There should be a similarly open way to appoint Ireland’s 18 full and 18 substitute delegates to the two EU advisory bodies charged with representing civil society, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions.

Civil society, coming to the aid of politicians who have failed to engage people with the EU, should demand these important areas are opened to democratic procedures and end the political old pals act.

Otherwise the great and good in these bodies leave themselves open to being accused of helping the politicians to bludgeon a depressed people into a yes vote.