RSF Condemns Lisbon

[Tomas O'Crohan]

Republican Sinn Féin, joined by taxi driver members of the Independent Workers Union and a "VOTE NO" farmers group, condemns the "Lisbon Treaty," so-called:

"7. IWU URGE ALL TAXI DRIVERS TO VOTE NO
 
ON August 12, the Taxi Drivers Branch of the Independent Workers Union issued a statement urging all their members and all taxi drivers to vote No in the upcoming referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.
 
"This treaty is the exact same treaty we rejected only a year ago.  The guarantees are not legally binding, only promises that they will be introduced at some unknown future date.
 
"Most importantly, the treaty furthers the free market values that amount to a race to the bottom for taxi drivers. The competition organised by the regulator has resulted in our members having to work 70 hours a week to get a living wage. This is forcing driver to work against driver while lowering wages and working conditions to rock bottom.
 
"The treaty is nine years old and out of date. It enshrines the failed economic policies that led to the current global recession. The cosy circle of politicians, bankers and developers who caused this crisis now expects ordinary working people to pay for their failures.
 
"With all this in mind, we are urging all taxi drivers to organise their voice and send a clear message to the taxi regulator, Kathleen Doyle and Government Minister Dempsey and reject the Lisbon Treaty."
 
8. FARMERS' GROUP CALLS FOR DEBATE ON LISBON
 
A GROUP of farmers launched a campaign for a No vote in the Lisbon Treaty referendum on October 2.    Farmers for No is comprised of former county chairmen and current members of the Irish Farmers' Association
 
James Reynolds, chairperson of the organisation, which represents around 50 farmers, said it was time that the IFA adopted a democratic approach to issues like the Lisbon Treaty.   He said what has happened to date is that the IFA were 'told by Government or told by policy makers in Brussels in the Commission to take this particular line' and debate on the issue was denied.  
 
He said a Millward Brown survey following last year's referendum showed 48% of farmers voted against Lisbon.   He said opinion is divided among farmers on the Lisbon Treaty and the IFA is not speaking for all farmers and he has called for a debate on this within the farming community.  
 
Earlier, 26-County Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said that the Dublin government believes that voting Yes in the Lisbon Treaty referendum will contribute to Ireland's economic recovery.  
 
On RTÉ's News At One, Micheál Martin said the Dublin government (sic) wants to provide comprehensive information about the guarantees Ireland has won from its European colleagues on the key issues of concern during the last referendum.   He said they had binding legal guarantees from EU leaders that Lisbon would not affect Irish policies on military neutrality, taxes and the right to life and he said there would be no loss of an Irish EU Commissioner.  
 
Earlier, Intel Ireland's General Manager said voting Yes to Lisbon would maintain Ireland's attractiveness to multi-national investors.   Jim O'Hara said US multi-nationals and international investors have viewed Ireland as playing a central role in Europe and it is one of the reasons why they have invested here.  
 
9. CONCERN, WAR AND THE LISBON TREATY
 
THE CEO of Concern, Tom Arnold at the Humbert School supported the Lisbon Treaty. He made no mention of acceleration of the militarisation of the EU that will come into effect as a consequence of the Treaty; the legalisation of the European Defence Agency and the EU Battle Groups, the solidarity and defence clauses that terminate what remains of our neutrality, the legal commitment to spend more money on weapons, or the creation of structured military co-operation within the EU. Instead he refers to the CEO of Intel whose 'Intel Building Blocks for Military, Aerospace and Government Application' show that that firm has a vested interest in the militarisation of the EU and war.
 
Roger Cole, Chair of PANA said on August 24:
 
"The Irish people have already rejected the Lisbon Treaty. Mr. Arnold, CEO of Concern by supporting the contention that the Irish people vote again on exactly the same treaty shows that as far as he and the rest of the elite are concerned, the people are allowed vote, but only if they vote yes. He has nothing but contempt for democracy and that fact that he quotes a CEO of a firm that is deeply involved with the military-industrial complex that intends to spend a massive amount of money to support the militarisation of the EU shows that he has no interest in peace either.""

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