Government preparing the ground for the re-running of the Lisbon Treaty referendum

3 December, 2008

Sinn Féin Dublin MEP Mary Lou McDonald has challenged Taoiseach Brian Cowen in advance of today’s meetings with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker over the Irish government’s failure to properly address the concerns of the Irish electorate over the Lisbon Treaty.

 

Speaking today from Brussels Ms. McDonald said:

 

“The European Council will meet in Brussels next week and one of the key items on the agenda is the Irish people’s rejection of the Lisbon Treaty.

 

For several weeks now the Taoiseach has been meeting with EU leaders to discuss the Irish government’s response and it is clear from comments of the Minister for Foreign Affairs that at none of these meetings have they even raised the renegotiation of the Treaty to address the concerns of the Irish electorate.

 

“It is becoming increasingly obvious that it is the Irish government’s intention to ignore the wishes of the electorate and to re-run the Lisbon Treaty referendum next year with a small number of declarations or clarifications that will have no legal status whatsoever.

 

“People will be watching what the government say and do next week very carefully.  And any attempt to ride roughshod over the wishes of the people will not be tolerated.” ENDS