R. Ó Brádaigh: 'A more democratic, not a less democratic..
'A more democratic, not a less democratic Europe, a Europe of peoples.' Statement by Ruairí Ó Brádaigh, President of Republican Sinn Féin to press conference, May 14, Dublin. Republican Sinn Féin calls for a NO vote to defend sovereignty, neutrality and democracy and defeat the Lisbon Treaty in the coming referendum on June 12. Those supporting Lisbon have freely admitted that it is 95% - 96% the proposed EU Constitution which was rejected by the people of France and Holland in referenda in 2005. Lisbon is the EU Constitution by the back door in that it would constitute or establish a new European Union in the form of a supranational Federal State. Qualified Majority Rule Lisbon is also a power-grab by the EU's Big States, Germany, France, Britain and Italy. By making EU law-making mainly dependent on population size, it would increase the relative weight of the Big States in making EU laws in future and reduce that of smaller States like the 26 Counties. Sovereignty Under Lisbon more than 50 policy areas will no longer be covered by a member state's veto. Another clause gives the EU Council of Ministers the right to extend its powers in all areas with the exception of defence. Neutrality The "mutual defence" clause contained in Lisbon would commit all member states to assist by "all means in their power" any EU state which is "the victim of armed aggression on its territory". This is a significant step towards the full militarisation of the EU. It will be recalled that a Fianna Fáil general election manifesto in recent times guaranteed no participation in the NATO-led Partnership for Peace without a referendum. Yet 18 months later the Fianna Fáil-led administration brazenly brought the State into that Partnership for Peace without a vote of the electorate. Neutrality is being steadily eroded. Democracy The non-elected EU Commission holds the power to initiate legislation. Under Lisbon the 26-County State will lose its commissioner for five out of every 15 years, ie for one-third of the time. Lisbon would give the EU Court of Justice the final decision on what our human and civil rights are in a wide range of areas. Already its "Laval ruling" set the "free movement of goods and services" as superior to the right of workers to strike. The Lisbon Treaty will further this agenda, placing competition above the rights of the working people. The issue at stake here is the Lisbon Treaty, the movement of power towards the centre in Brussels and the tightening of the EU grip, NOT the question of EU membership. If Lisbon is defeated, life will go on as before - as happened when France and Holland rejected the proposed constitution - and the whole matter will have to be reconsidered. In fact this State could give a lead to the other peoples of Europe to demand their own referenda in turn, thus increasing democratic accountability. Voting NO to the Lisbon Treaty/EU Constitution is opposing the creation of an undemocratic superstate, increased militarisation, the erosion of neutrality, the privatisation of public services and unfettered capitalism. We want a more democratic, not a less democratic Europe, a Europe of peoples.

Sinn Féin Poblachtach has also produced anti-Lisbon posters and a very informative pamphlet on the Lisbon treaty of which i hope to have the text of on here soon.

Leaflet
Here is the text of the leaflet MacLiam mentioned. Defend Sovereignty - Neutrality - Democracy Vote No to Lisbon The Lisbon Treaty lays the basis for the creation of a European super state; already 80% of 26-County domestic law is subservient to EU laws and directives. • The Lisbon Treaty introduces a clause which gives the EU Council of ministers the right to extend its powers without the need for a further treaty • The Lisbon Treaty will remove the requirement for any further extension of EU power to be voted on by the Irish people in referenda • The Lisbon Treaty paves the way for the creation of an EU army. Already EU military staffs EU 'Battle groups' have been set up which can operate 2,500 miles outside the borders of the EU. The Lisbon Treaty/EU Constitution will militarise the EU even, committing the 26-County State to a 'mutual - defence' commitment and removing the need for a referendum in the future on any new commitments to EU defence. • Whilst health services such as cancer care in the 26 Counties face huge cuts in essential funding provision is being made for increased military spending to meet EU military commitments under the Lisbon Treaty/EU Constitution. •The presence of 26-County troops in Chad, supporting a French colonial proxy war with China - who are propping up the regime in neighbouring Sudan- over oil reserves, highlights the nature of the military "tasks" that the 26-County state will be expected to perform.Almost 100 years after the First World War, is yet another generation of Irish people to be sacrificed on foreign battlefields in the interests of European capitalism and imperialism? • The Lisbon Treaty represents an attack on both political and economic democracy. • This leads to a society where the needs of the 'market' are placed over all others, including the right to a job and a decent wage, where the best public services only go to those who can pay the most •The 'Laval ruling' of the European Court of Justice set the "free movement of goods and services" as superior to the right of workers to strike. Again the Lisbon Treaty will further this agenda, placing competition above the rights of working people. • By voting NO to the Lisbon Treaty you are opposing the creation of an undemocratic superstate, increased militarisation, the erosion of neutrality, the privatisation of public services and unfettered capitalism.

Thanks. There is another one though as well.

Indeed, you mean the pamphlet. It's published in the May issue of Saoirse, too.

According to Saoirse the following is the text of the RSF No to Lisbon leaflet (does anyone know if there's a pdf. or whatever of the leaflet available?): SOVEREIGNTY: The Lisbon Treaty lays the basis for the creation of a European super state. Already 80% of 26-County domestic law is subservient to EU laws and directives. Under the Lisbon Treaty/EU Constitution the power of the unelected Commission would be further increased whilst the 26-County state for five years out of 15 will have no representative on the EU Commission. This means commissioner. Power and decisionmaking would under the qualified majority rule be vested in the hands of the big states such as Britain, France, Germany and Italy. This is because population size would become the key influence in making EU laws. It also introduces a clause which gives the EU Council of Ministers the right to extend its powers. This can allow for the removal of a national veto in all areas with the exception of defence. This will also remove the requirement for any further extension of EU power to be voted on by the Irish people in referenda. The Lisbon Treaty is in reality the EU Constitution under another name. Its purpose is to give the EU the status of a supranational federal state or ‘legal personality’ allowing it in the future to negotiate and ratify internationally binding agreements in crucial areas such as foreign policy and justice. By ratifying the Lisbon Treaty/EU Constitution the member states would be allowing the EU to seek representation at the UN as an entity in its own right claiming to itself the authority to speak for the various states including the 26 Counties. NEUTRALITY: The Lisbon Treaty/EU Constitution paves the way for the creation of an EU army. This process was begun with the Nice Treaty which formally established EU military staffs and the setting up of EU ‘Battle groups’ which can operate 2,500 miles outside the borders of the EU. The Lisbon Treaty/EU Constitution accelerates this setting out in Article 28 B the military role envisaged for the EU superstate. This includes: “joint disarmament operations, tasks of combat forces in crisis management, including peace-making and post-conflict stabilisation.” The Lisbon Treaty/EU Constitution will militarise the EU even further, committing the 26-County State to a ‘mutual - defence’ commitment and removing the need for a referendum in the future on any new commitments to EU defence. It goes on to state that all of these tasks may involve “supporting third countries in combating terrorism in their territories”. Whilst health services such as Cancer care in the 26 Counties face huge cuts in essential funding, provision is being made in the Lisbon Treaty for increased military spending. The Lisbon Treaty/EU Constitution also provides for the creation of what would be an EU Foreign Minister and a European Diplomatic corps. This gives the EU a distinct presence on the world stage giving it both a military and political character. The presence of 26-County troops in Chad, supporting a French colonial proxy war with China - the regime in neighbouring Sudan is being propped up by China - over oil reserves, highlights the nature of the military “tasks” that the 26-County state will be expected to perform. Almost 100 years after the First World War, is yet another generation of Irish people to be sacrificed on foreign battlefields in the interests of European capitalism and imperialism? DEMOCRACY: The Lisbon Treaty/EU Constitution represents an attack on both political and economic democracy. Public services such as water, (the current water rates levied on schools is an example of EU imposed policy) electricity supply, waste disposal, health care, the provision of social housing and education, postal services, public transport, are some of the vital areas which are categorised as “services of general economic interest” by the EU. This means states cannot block the privatisation of such services. The Lisbon Treaty/EU Constitution accelerates this policy. Under the Lisbon Treaty/EU Constitution the Thatcherite neoliberal model of unbridled capitalism will dictate the economic and social policy of states, exposing the most vulnerable in society. This leads to a society where the needs of the ‘market’ are placed over all others, including the right to a job and a decent wage, where the best public services only go to those who can pay the most. Already within the EU Trade Union rights have seldom faced a greater threat, the recent ‘Laval ruling’ of the European Court of Justice set the “free movement of goods and services” as superior to the right of workers to strike. Again the Lisbon Treaty/EU Constitution will further this agenda, placing competition above the rights of working people. By voting NO to the Lisbon Treaty/EU Constitition you are opposing the creation of an undemocratic superstate, increased militarisation, the erosion of neutrality, the privatisation of public services and unfettered capitalism.