8 November 2007 Edition

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Poor public support for EU Treaty

Mary Lou McDonald

Mary Lou McDonald

Sinn Féin Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald has described the results of an Irish Times poll on waning support among the public in the 26 Counties for the EU Reform Treaty over the last two years as unsurprising.
She said that after the rejection of the EU Constitution by French and Dutch voters in 2005 the European political establishment committed to engage in a meaningful process of dialogue with member state citizens on the future of Europe. Despite similar promises by the Taoiseach “all we actually got by way of a debate were a couple of Dublin bus side advertisements and radio ads promoting this years 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome”.
The Dublin MEP said Bertie Ahern seemed intent on securing the job of President of the European Council when he steps down from Irish politics - a job that will not exist unless the Reform Treaty is passed.
She said Ahern had not fought to secure “Irish neutrality, the right to determine our own taxation or how we finance our public services and state enterprises”.
“The massive increase of a Don’t Know vote to 62% is a result of Ahern’s laissez-faire attitude to the promised debate on the future of Europe and indeed his refusal to fight for the best interests of the Irish people”, said McDonald.

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