De Brún warns that EU leaders could fuel opposition to the EU

17 December, 2008

Bairbre de Brún said that “the way the Irish ‘No’ vote has been dealt with is not creating goodwill” and warned that “it could even fuel opposition to the EU”. Speaking in the European Parliament Ms de Brún said that  “the gap between EU leaders and citizens has been deepened by the response to ‘No’ votes in Ireland and elsewhere.” 

Below is the speech made by Ms de Brún during the European Parliament debate on the outcome of last weeks European Council: 

Council Conclusions: the Lisbon Treaty 

“Ireland’s place is in the European Union. Co-operation with our European partners is valuable. But the way the Irish ‘No’ vote has been dealt with is not creating goodwill. It could even fuel opposition to the EU, and not only in Ireland. 

“The Council has refused to make the slightest change to the Lisbon Treaty. Instead people in Ireland are to be given some reassuring words and told they should change their minds. 

“The Council has not addressed the real concerns of the people of Ireland in relation to the militarisation of the EU, workers rights, public services. And the gap between EU leaders and citizens has been deepened by the response to ‘No’ votes in Ireland and elsewhere. 

“The Council Conclusions do not provide credible guarantees where they are needed. They fail to deliver positive reasons for voting in favour of the Lisbon Treaty. Instead there is now an attempt to confuse a number of issues and to give full reign to fear and misinformation in a rerun of the referendum.  

“With regard to the Council Conclusions regarding the climate and energy package, it is very important that there is to be legislation with legally binding targets. However part of the package is unsatisfactory and is not as strong as it should be.  “ 

Conclúidí Comhairle: Conradh Liospóin 

“Ba chóir d’Éirinn bheith san Aontas Eorpach.  Tá comhoibriú lenár gcomhpháirtithe Eorpach luachmhar.  Ach níl an dóigh ar déileáladh leis an vóta ‘Níl’ in Éirinn ag spreagadh dea-thoil. Thiocfadh leis fiú cur leis an seasamh in aghaidh an AE, agus ní amháin in Éirinn. 

“Dhiúltaigh an Chomhairle athrú ar bith a dhéanamh ar Chonradh Liospóin. Ina áit sin táthar ag iarraidh focail spreagthacha a thabhairt do dhaoine in Éirinn agus táthar ag insint dóibh gur chóir dóibh athchomhairle a dhéanamh. 

“Ní dheachaigh an Chomhairle i ngleic le fíor-imnithe mhuintir na hÉireann maidir le míleatú an AE, cearta lucht oibre agus seirbhísí poiblí. Agus tá an bearna idir cheannairí an Aontais agus na saoránaithe ag iarraidh níos doimhne mar gheall ar an fhreagairt do na vótaí ‘Níl’ in Éirinn agus in áiteanna eile.  

“Ní thugann Conclúidí na Comhairle ráthaíochtaí inchreidte sna háiteanna ina bhfuil gá leo. Teipeann orthu cúiseanna dearfacha a thabhairt le gur féidir vótáil i bhfabhar Chonradh Liospóin. Ina áit sin déantar iarracht anois roinnt saincheisteanna a chur trína chéile agus ligean don eagla agus do mhífhaisnéis bheith i mbarr réime in athdhéanamh an reifrinn. 

“Ó thaobh Conclúidí na Comhairle maidir leis an pacáiste um fhuinneamh agus athrú aeráide, tá sé thar a bheith tábhachtach go bhfuil reachtaíocht le bheith ann le spriocanna atá ina cheangal dlí, ach tá cuid den pacáiste míshásúil agus níl sé chomh láidir agus a ba chóir dó a bheith.”