There is no doubt that the second Lisbon Referendum on October 2nd is taking place in extraordinarily difficult and different economic circumstances. After long and careful consideration of all the critical issues involved, I believe that, on balance, a Yes Vote to the Lisbon Treaty Referendum is in the best interests of the Irish people.
The Lisbon Treaty remains a significant legal document and will establish the European Union with its own legal personality. It includes a series of reforms to improve the governance of the European Union (EU) following its expansion to 27 member states. I have long advocated a more democratic, effective and responsive EU. I therefore welcome measures which include the extension of the co-decision powers for the European Parliament, the election of the President of the Commission, public European Council sittings and the new Citizen’s Initiative. The new double majority voting system will entail 55% of member states and 65% of the EU’s population to approve European Council decisions. Four states will be able to come together and form a type of blocking minority but some concerns remain about the impact of this new system on smaller member states.
However, the expansion of the new qualified majority system will strengthen EU-wide efforts to enhance cross border co-operation on a range of issues such as climate change and crime including human and drug trafficking. As these are matters that no one country can tackle by themselves, it makes sense to allow EU states to act together more effectively and coherently to address these difficult challenges.
An important reason for voting yes is to make sure that we are at the heart of the European Union advancing a strong social democratic agenda especially in terms of workers’ and citizens’ rights, better social and financial regulation and job creation initiatives. Under Lisbon the introduction of the Charter for Fundamental Rights as primary law will facilitate new workers’ protections including a right of collective bargaining and action and a right to information and consultation. This will be accompanied by the Solemn Declaration on Workers’ Rights and a new social clause (in terms of employment and social justice) mandating that the social impact of any policy decision is fully taken into account.
Lisbon does not have any impact on previous European Court of Justice rulings such as the notorious Laval case in Sweden. Lisbon will also have no impact on the right and ability of the Irish government to set and control the Irish minimum wage. The European Trade Union Confederation (EUTC) which represents millions of workers across the EU is supporting Lisbon as a means of continuing to advance and enhance workers’ and citizens’ rights and a progressive agenda.
A key difference this time around is that a ‘Yes’ vote for Lisbon will secure the maintenance of an Irish Commissioner (under the earlier Nice Treaty the number of Commissioners was to be cut by one third). During the first referendum many constituents expressed their grave concerns about the impact of the Lisbon Treaty on vital national interests including taxation, social/ethical and military/defence issues. I am satisfied that the agreed Legal Guarantees have safeguarded our exclusive national rights over taxation, the right to life, education, the family, security and defence.
However, I also believe that Ireland must continue to be vigilant about military/defence, social and taxation issues beyond the Lisbon debate. Ireland’s strong commitment to neutrality must continue to be equally and fully maintained within the culture and governance of the EU. The Irish government must also ensure post-Lisbon that any different needs and circumstances that Ireland has as an island nation are equally respected and addressed within the EU system including the management of the Eurozone economy and important issues of justice and asylum.
Although, I have previously warned of the impact on Ireland’s fiscal wellbeing of a "one size fits all" EU monetary policy, I acknowledge the support that the European Central Bank and other EU bodies have provided for Ireland during the current economic crisis. In general, Ireland and Dublin North East have benefited from our membership of the EU over the past 36 years. The Lisbon Treaty may indeed be a watershed and initiate a new and more important era for Pan-European politics and institutions. However, as a recent German Constitutional Court ruling (the so-called Karlsruhe decision) made clear, in every member state the national parliament representing the people remains the supreme and sovereign legislative body and cannot be usurped.
Therefore, on balance, and after thorough consideration of all of the key issues involved I have decided to vote "Yes" and to recommend a "Yes" vote to my constituents and supporters.