Networking matters more than voting muscle

IT is indeed reasonable to think of voting No in the Lisbon re-run because of the reduction in voting rights.

The reduction in Ireland’s voting strength is significant.

However, my personal experience in Brussels is that the reality is completely different.

The reality is that whether Ireland has 1% or 2% of the vote, or whatever it is, makes not a blind bit of difference to “our voice”. Either way, the size of our vote is nothing compared to that of the big countries.

The way we really advance Ireland’s interests is by lobbying, by convincing others, by keeping “in” with the commission, by explaining, by creating alliances. In this way we can, and do, have an influence five times our size or more. This has nothing to do with 1%. In the Brussels bear-pit, what really counts is the power of political persuasion.

By voting Yes we preserve and (through our demonstrated commitment to Europe) indeed enlarge our power to persuade. If we vote No we will be rightly banjaxed.

Lisbon really, really matters. We need a strong and an efficient Europe to protect our interests. Vote Yes.

Eoin O Cofaigh

President

Architects’ Council of Europe

2000 Upper Mount Street

Dublin 2