Nice treaty will strip us of ability to have some say in our future
The treaty states categorically that once the member states reach 27, the number of full time commissioners will be reduced by a number and in a manner yet to be determined. Ireland, like all the other smaller states, will have to wait their turn to have influence over EU policy making.
Hidden behind that are the rules on qualified majority voting. The treaty also states that in future, policy can and will be determined by either a majority of states or a majority based upon population size (62% being the stated majority required). This effectively means that the big five can force measures through.
