Leading figures nail colours to treaty masts

JUST more than two weeks ahead of the second vote on the Lisbon Treaty, some of the country’s leading sporting, social, political and artistic figures have firmly pinned their colours to the Yes or No camps.

In terms of courting high profile support the pro-treaty campaigners certainly seem to have the Edge – literally.

As well as having the U2 guitarist amongst its heavyweight patrons the “Ireland for Europe” campaign has attracted Irish soccer captain Robbie Keane, accomplished film director and screenwriter Jim Sheridan and former international rugby player Denis Hickey.

For his part, the Leinster and Ireland winger has demanded a Yes on October 2 to restore confidence in the country.

“It’s all well and good to blame politicians, but doing something about it yourself is more important,” he argued.

Internationally renowned poet Seamus Heaney said he was distressed for Ireland in Europe when the last result was made known.

“It is inestimable, the loss of influence, status and trust that occurred with a No vote: it is palpable and real,” he said.

Tom Arnold chief executive of charity Concern agreed about the international consequences of rejecting Lisbon.

“Given that all other EU members have accepted the Lisbon Treaty as a basis for more effective governance going forward, a second No to Lisbon by the Irish electorate would, I believe, have serious negative consequences for this country’s future – and I don’t believe that falls into the category of scaremongering,” he said.

Among the few public figures who have indicated their disaffection with Lisbon are artist Robert Ballagh, musician Jim Corr and veteran broadcaster and journalist Vincent Browne.

Jim Corr claims a Yes vote would ensure the subjugation of all Irish people under a neo-con world state run by “them” and claims the upcoming treaty vote is a “disguised” attempt to create a one-world government through “the EU, the North American union, the Asia-Pacific union, and the African union”.

Mr Ballagh has rejected any suggesting that Ireland will be suffer internationally as a result of rejecting it.

“The suggestion that we will be marginalised in Europe if we vote against the Lisbon Treaty is outrageous in that there are no provisions in any EU treaty for the imposition of sanctions on any member state as a consequence of a democratic decision made by the citizens of that state,” he said.

Vincent Browne said: “The treaty is essentially a redraft of the EU constitution that was rejected by the people of France and the Netherlands.”