Legal guarantees meet Irish concerns

THE Government has sought fully to address the concerns of the Irish people as expressed in last year’s Lisbon Treaty referendum.

At the summit of EU leaders last December, agreement was secured that if the treaty is ratified all countries in the EU would have the right to nominate one member to the European Commission at all times.

At the last meeting of EU leaders in June, legal certainties were put in place which fully clarify that the EU does not have any power to legislate in the policy areas of abortion or taxation.

These legal sureties also stated clearly that Irish neutrality is fully respected within the EU and there is a solemn declaration that workers’ rights are fully protected within the context of the Lisbon Treaty.

All these issues were very real concerns of the Irish people during the last Lisbon campaign.

The Government negotiated this agreement in a spirit of determination and co-operation with our other 26 EU partners.

It is in Ireland’s economic interest that we stay as a central and committed member of the EU.

People who create jobs here want a Yes vote because they know we will recover economically with the support of both the EU and the European Central Bank.

Now is the time to embrace the EU. Economically, we would be very foolish to do otherwise.

Liam Aylward MEP

Hugginstown

Co Kilkenny