Lisbon Treaty

[dahamsta]

I wasn't consulted about it. Anyone?

You could probably draw up a list of who was consulted by copying and pasting committe and subcommittee names from the EU site, plus of course a full list of EU lobbyists...

adam

[dfx-]

And we're still looking for the Yes side to come up with A credible reason why this treaty benefits Ireland.

This treaty is not about Ireland, it's about Europe. There is more to Europe than Ireland and how it benefits Ireland. I'm voting on my opinion as a European, not Irish.

[pete]

I wasn't consulted about it. Anyone?

You could probably draw up a list of who was consulted by copying and pasting committee and subcommittee names from the EU site, plus of course a full list of EU lobbyists...

adam

I know Wikipedia not a definitive source. Consultation was for the EU Constitution which the Lisbon Treaty is largely based on.

The European Convention was established with 105 members, chaired by former French president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing. Its members were drawn from the national parliaments of member states and candidate countries, the European Parliament, the European Commission, and representatives of heads of state and government. The Convention met for the first time in February 2002, and met thereafter in plenary session once or twice per month. It deliberated in public in the European Parliament building in Brussels.

All these people are elected or former elected officials.

I presume EU lobbiest would be include the likes of Big Business, small business, farmers, environmentalists & trade unions.

Like many Treaties hard to find a direct benefit to Ireland. The EU will be a more effective organisation with administrative changes in the Treaty which indirectly benefits Ireland as many of the Irish laws come indirectly from the EU.

[Macy]

Like many Treaties hard to find a direct benefit to Ireland. The EU will be a more effective organisation with administrative changes in the Treaty which indirectly benefits Ireland as many of the Irish laws come indirectly from the EU.

How come 27 Commissioners is too many for the whole EU, but the Government here have, what is it now, 35 ministers for just Ireland?

[pete]

How come 27 Commissioners is too many for the whole EU, but the Government here have, what is it now, 35 ministers for just Ireland?

Yes, 35 Ministers & Ministers for State in Ireland. Give me a Referendum which limits to say 25 in Irish Constitution & I will vote Yes. Fianna Fail increased the Ministers for State to 20. Maybe we could get the EU to impose a limit on us?

[Macy]

Yes, 35 Ministers & Ministers for State in Ireland....
Fianna Fail increased the Ministers for State to 20.

So how can credibly argue that 27 is too many for the EU? Efficiency me arse.

[pete]

So how can credibly argue that 27 is too many for the EU? Efficiency me arse.

If I said there should be no Ministers for State in Ireland would that be acceptable. To ensure they had 27 Commissioners they had to basically invent roles. With extra members that gets worse.

[Dodge]

Still trying to find a credible organisation that is backing a No vote. So far there options are Shinners preaching about Militarisation, Bible Bashers warning against democracy (Three Monkeys posters), Former Commies warning against sovereignty, Shady organisation probably backed by US Military interests warning against democracy, abortion & neutrality. How can any of these organisations be taken seriously?

At least on the Yes side it is obvious why the organisations want the Treaty passed.

From what I have read the Lisbon Treaty (based on EU Constitution) has been created based on the biggest consultation process ever undertaken in Europe.

Starting looking at posters the past couple of days.

reasons to vote no;
If FF and FG both think its right, it can't be good.

Reasons to vote yes;
shameful emotive language like "people died for your freedom...."

I'll probably vote no, just to see if they'll pull a mulligan like Nice and see if they can force it through this time too


Oh and the number of EU ministers is a ridiculously pedantic point. I'd guess there is at least 50 different "topics" that could have ministers. can't see why having specialised ministers is worse than general types like "Finance"

[GavinZac]

And we're still looking for the Yes side to come up with A credible reason why this treaty benefits Ireland.

What's good for the EU is good for Ireland. This treaty wasn't supposed to be about 4 million people holding 491.5 million hostage for the "best deal". No credible person can deny this is true; instead people are being fed lies about mandatory military service, abortions, taxation and privatised health care, by the shinner isolationist fascists and their issues with Mandelson, and by some shady faceless US funded lobby group.

[pete]

Reasons to Vote based various groups

Yes
FF - Good for Ireland & Europe
FG - Better to be inside than outside.
IBEC - Good for jobs.
Labour - ?
Greens - ?
PDs - ?

No
Right Wing Religious - Europe won't listen to us (3 monkeys)
SF - Renegotiate the Treaty
Libertas - Undemocratic/Militaristation
Unknown group - Sovereignty (1916 poster)
No Alliance or something - Because France & Holland voted that way.
Socialists/Workers Party - ?

IMO voting No just because France & Holland rejected the Constitution is the most bizarre logic.

[Macy]

Socialists/Workers Party - ?

Embeds privatisation/ competition agenda, contains clauses on business rights but not workers rights, militarisation and common defence.

Biffo is actually the best thing that's happened to the no campaign - his recent bully boy tactics on the treaty of FG and Labour supporters has got peoples backs up and I know several that jacking in campaigning on it since he had the go. A bit bizarre, as for most of the time FG have been leading the campaign - now they have their chance to distance themselves from the result which looks more dodgy after recent polls, and recent EU interventions.

[osarusan]

What's good for the EU is good for Ireland.

FF - Good for Ireland & Europe

I've not followed this issue closely because I can't vote on it, but from what I've seen on this site, the issue seems to be that when pressed to explain specifically how this treaty is good for Ireland, the 'yes' side have had a lot of trouble doing so.

Is that correct?

[holidaysong]

Unknown group - Sovereignty (1916 poster)

That group is called 'Coir'.

[Dodge]

I've not followed this issue closely because I can't vote on it, but from what I've seen on this site, the issue seems to be that when pressed to explain specifically how this treaty is good for Ireland, the 'yes' side have had a lot of trouble doing so.

Is that correct?

yes.

I forgot to add a reason to vote no was that IBEC are urging people to vote yes on the basis of job creation. LOL

[Lionel Ritchie]

That group is called 'Coir'.

Well they've no web presence as searches have informed me that Coir is the fiberous husk as the base of a coconut.

The logic of such people does irritate me I must admit ...namely that we can never do anything that mightn't sit well with those who "died for our freedom". What's our freedom worth if we're expected to facilitate Paddy Pearses wish (unexpressed at that) to wield executive clout from the grave?

[holidaysong]

Well they've no web presence as searches have informed me that Coir is the fiberous husk as the base of a coconut.

Here is where I seen it:

THE Labour party has criticised one of the groups supporting a no vote in the Lisbon treaty referendum, claiming it was revisiting “alarmist” tactics used in the 1995 divorce referendum.

Coir, campaigning against the treaty, erected posters bearing messages such as “People died for your freedom — don’t throw it all away”. Another says “Lisbon: it will cost you more tax — less power”.

Labour, backing the treaty, claimed such messages were “deliberately misleading”. The party claimed Coir was associated with those who had erected the “Hello Divorce: Goodbye Daddy” posters in the referendum of 13 years ago.

http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer...story62801.asp


EDIT: Here is their website - http://www.lisbonvote.com/

'Click here for funny Lisbon video'...

[micls]

An 'adult' told a kid in my class that if this gets passed then all kids will have to join the army when they are 18.......how do you respond to rubbish like that?

[pete]

That group is called 'Coir'.

I thought they were the religious nuts with the 3 monkeys posters?

btw the post above was just trying outline the reasons the various groups were urging a vote one way or the other not to explain the logic.

[holidaysong]

I thought they were the religious nuts with the 3 monkeys posters?

btw the post above was just trying outline the reasons the various groups were urging a vote one way or the other not to explain the logic.

The Irish Examiner article I posted above claims they are also behind the 'Don't throw away your freedom' posters too...

[Dodge]

An 'adult' told a kid in my class that if this gets passed then all kids will have to join the army when they are 18.......how do you respond to rubbish like that?

Tell them it'll toughen 'em up and prepare them better for live in general