Why can’t Ireland follow German line on treaty?

THE German Constitutional Court has just ruled that the German government must introduce legislation to ensure that the German parliament – the Bundestag – has the right of refusal over changes brought about by the proposed Lisbon Treaty (Article 48).

As most people in Ireland are probably now aware, this is the article that allows the treaty to be self-amended.

This means that in Germany silence on the part of their parliament will mean not consent but refusal, so they are going to have to give consent explicitly when asked by the government after article 48 is invoked. I wish the same could be said in Ireland. Even if we passed a law requiring the Dáil to be consulted on such changes, the reality is that any such consultation would only lead to a rubber stamp of the Government’s wishes, which will probably be part of some deal they have concocted with others in the European Council.