RSF applaud no vote - Irish people say no to EU power grab

Statement by the Vice President of Republican Sinn Féin Des Dalton

The Irish people have clearly and unequivocally said no to a power grab by the EU political elite by their rejection of the Lisbon Treaty/EU Constitution. The clear message given by the Irish people is that they reject the construction of an undemocratic EU superstate. The people have spoken and must not be ignored unlike the first Nice referendum in the 26 Counties or the French and Dutch referenda in 2005 which rejected the EU Constitution – the Lisbon Treaty and the EU Constitution are 96% the same document.

A clear marker has been laid down to the Dublin and Brussels political establishments. The Irish people are not prepared to give over more power to an institution which they do not elect and which is not accountable to them. Three times in three years the people of three states have now said no to a militarised and unaccountable EU superstate.

What also emerges from the referendum result is that a gulf has grown between the Dublin political establishment and the mass of the people. The line taken by the main 26-County political parties throughout the referendum campaign was that people need not understand the Lisbon Treaty or its implications but merely trust them in recommending its acceptance. The resounding rejection of Lisbon shows the people do not trust them.

EU Tightening Grip – Ó Brádaigh calls for a Vote NO

Statement from Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, President Republican Sinn Féin

“The EU is tightening its grip. The Lisbon Treaty means, basically, more power to Brussels and less power to the State here,” said Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, President Republican Sinn Féin.

He was addressing a meeting in Strokestown, Co Roscommon of Comhairle Chúige Chonnacht which is composed of delegates from all counties in Connacht and Longford.

Lisbon is another step in the centralisation process of the EU. It is admitted to being 96% the proposed EU Constitution which was rejected by the people of France and of Holland in referendums.

Now it is back as a ‘Treaty’ with no referendums at all except in the 26-County State. There will be no commissioner for five out of every 15 years and 60 more policy areas will lose the veto which was there since 1973.

Germany’s say on the Council of Ministers will be doubled from 8% to 17%. France’s weight in decision making will go from 8% to 13% and that of Britain and Italy jump by half.

It was a’ power grab’ by the big states for control of this new union. The voting weight of the State would be halved to just 1%.

The European Defence Agency was being pushed centre stage to promote the European Arms Industry and endanger neutrality more than ever. We were being involved in the ‘proxy wars’ of the bigger states such as France’s defence of its interests in Chad.

Ó Brádaigh urged Republican Sinn Fééin members to push hard for a NO vote with posters and leaflets as well as canvassing support.

French threat shows true face of EU elite

Statement by the Vice President of Republican Sinn Féin Des Dalton

THE true face of the European political elite was shown by the threat issued by the French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner to the Irish people that they would be “victims” in the event of a rejection of the Lisbon Treaty/EU Constitution.

Such threats reveal undemocratic nature of the agenda behind the Lisbon Treaty/EU constitution. Just as the Mr Kouchner’s own fellow citizens along with the Dutch rejected the EU Constitution in 2005 – the Lisbon Treaty is made up of 95 per cent of the content of the EU Constitution – the Irish people have every right to do the same.

By voting NO we will not be turning our back on Europe but rather we will be giving a voice to the hundreds of millions of people denied a vote and in the case of the French and Dutch whose vote against the EU Constitution in 2005 was ignored by the EU political establishment.

By voting No to Lisbon we are saying no to the creation of an undemocratic superstate, increased militarisation, the further erosion of neutrality, the privatisation of public services and the subversion of the rights of working people.