Robert G. Coenen, St Julians
The Irish are not for sale (1)
Eurosceptic members of the European Parliament demonstrate during a debate on the preparation of the upcoming European Summit after the results of the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday.
Although the European Union pointed its finger at Ireland and demanded a "you owe me" settlement, the Irish showed character and were not for sale!
The Irish people were the only people in the European Union allowed to vote on the EU Constitution camouflaged as the Lisbon Treaty and their vote should be respected.
Those Irish could not be fooled! Those Irish spoke in the name of all the muted and disenfranchised people of Europe. One doesn't need to be a clairvoyant in order to state that the majority of the people in the European Union would have done the same, if only they had been allowed to.
You don't change the rules of the game while playing it: If the leaders first negotiated a "Constitution for Europe" - rejected by those who were allowed to voice their opinion - then negotiated a "Treaty of Lisbon" with an identical purpose, but failed to have the courage to put it to a vote, in fear of another rejection, it is time to renounce the political union as a goal but return to the economic principles which established the European Union in the first place.
The Irish Prime Minister negotiated the lot in Lisbon and if he now doesn't get the confidence of the Irish people, he should be aware of his lack of understanding of the voice of the people.
The people of Europe don't want a non-elected "super-president". The people of Europe don't want all those non-elected officials to decide their day-to-day life. The people of Europe don't want the governments of the nations of the European Union to secure fat jobs for superfluous party members as bureaucrats in Brussels and travel from photo-opportunity to photo-opportunity and parade with bells, cymbals and pomp like emperors of (almost) forgotten times.
The governments of the nations in Europe have forgotten the principles of democracy-consultations with the people seem to be out of fashion. The only way forward for the governments is to consult the people and take their concerns as a reality.
We, the citizens of Europe, have to be grateful for the voice and vote of the sensible Irish in more ways than one.
The citizens of Europe should not be governed by power-hungry politicians in a mediaeval manner. We, the citizens of Europe, don't have to be in political isolation, and certainly do not need the tutelage of the Brussels bureaucrats. We are ready for more direct democracy and we would like to have it now!
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Charles Camilleri
Jun 20th 2008, 16:08
The EU has been of great benefit to Ireland and has been instrumental in raising the standard of living of the Irish people from past poverty to one of the richest country in Europe. The Irish people feel strong enough to oppose the rest of EU countries by paying back with ingratitude.
Cecil Cassar
Jun 20th 2008, 12:53
Well, the Irish came "cap in hand" to the EU when they joined some years ago. They were a very large net gainer of finances from the EU then. Having had massive help from the EU to build a successful economy. However, when the time comes to give something back to help other states that are currently in the same position as the Irish were all those years ago, they say no.
I find it extremely selfish of the Irish to take what they can out ofthe EU and give nothing back when it is their turn to do so.
It would be a great Idea if the other states could vote to throw out a member state that has clearly shown so much greed.
laurence schembri
Jun 20th 2008, 11:52
Well said Paddy!
Liam Kelly
Jun 20th 2008, 11:36
Robert,
You seem to be contradicting your whole argument by dictating what me and every other European 'wants'.
First of all there has been an unelected rotating presedency of Europe for a long time....no-one complained about that but now since its part of the Lisbon treaty your complaining about it now?
Secondly your point regarding non elected officials deciding our day tto day lives; again false. The Lisbon treaty will infact increase the scope of the European Parliament (elected) will have a say in.
The way to respect the Irish is for them to be dismissed from the union. The fact that they have benefited so greatly as to go from one of the poorest countries to the second richest under the premis of major infrastructural and economic development provided by the EU to then blatently turn their backs on a treaty which would have helped for them to benefit even further is ridiculous, and the actions of their 'MEP's as well as the British MEP's (by the way, what on earth does it have to do with them?) just goes to show that they are as disrespectful as they are ungreatful