Our place is at heart of Europe

He now makes the inaccurate and spurious point that Nice is somehow likely to threaten Ireland’s corporate tax rate. Ireland at present has the lowest such tax rate in the EU. Nice does nothing to change that.

The situation before and after Nice is identical. Ireland has, and continues to have, an absolute veto on tax. The professor implies that some member states would use enhanced co-operation in the tax area.

What he doesn't mention is that those states can co-operate on tax at the moment, if they want: enhanced co-operation under Nice gives us the ability to influence their actions. But enhanced co-operation by other states has no effect on our policies. The key point about enhanced co-operation is that member states can opt in or out as they see fit.

Before and after Nice, Ireland can set its tax rates at whatever level it likes.

If the professor has some positive reasons for voting no, it would be interesting to hear them.

He hankers after an Ireland where our sovereignty was not shared a sovereignty that meant we were ignored internationally, where our chief export was our people and not our products, and where the Bank of England gave us 30 minutes warning that our currency was to be devalued.

Ireland's place is at the heart of the EU and the Treaty of Nice is necessary to ensure an effective and enlarged union.

The future of Ireland and of Europe will be guaranteed by a Yes vote.

Tegwyn Stephenson,

Cork co-ordinator,

Ireland for Europe,

Midleton,

Co Cork.