Brian Cowen must now argue for renegotiation of Lisbon

18 June, 2008

Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald was in Leinster House today to brief the media on Sinn Fein’s submission to An Taoiseach on what a renegotiated Treaty must contain. The detailed document has been delivered to Brian Cowen in advance of tomorrow’s Council of Ministers meeting in Brussels.

 

Speaking at the briefing Ms McDonald said:

 

“During the Lisbon Treaty referendum campaign Sinn Féin argued that Ireland’s place is in Europe but a better deal was possible. Our campaign focused on four central areas of concern, namely democracy, neutrality, workers rights and public services. We also outlined concerns with respect to issues of trade, the developing world and the European Atomic Energy Treaty.

 

“The people have now spoken and the Lisbon Treaty is over.  The ratification process should end and the leaders of the EU’s 27 member states must now negotiate a new Treaty.

 

“This document contains the detail of the better deal, which Sinn Féin argued for during the referendum. It represents short-term strategic reforms, which we believe, are reasonable, practical and deliverable in the context of any upcoming negotiation.  They are the minimum required in any new treaty.” ENDS