LOCAL Sinn Fein part members launched their ‘no to Lisbon’ campaign locally this week.

Addressing the conference, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD said that SF believes that Ireland’s place is within the EU, a membership which has brought social and economic benefits. However, the party believes some EU proposals have negative effects on Ireland.

“We believe that the best approach to the EU is to critically assess each proposal on its merits. When something is in Ireland’s interests, or indeed the interests of the European Union as a whole, we support it. However when something is clearly not in our interests or that of the wider EU, we oppose it and campaign to change it.”

SF has taken the view that the Lisbon Treaty represents a bad deal for Ireland, for the EU and for the developing world. The party believes the Lisbon Treaty undermines democracy, promotes militarization, undermines neutrality, promotes liberalization, undermines workers rights and public Services, undermines rural Ireland and undermines the Irish economy.

Deputy Ó Caoláin said the treaty gives the EU ‘too much power’.

“Ireland’s Voting strength on the Council of Europe will be reduced by over 50% and we lose the right to a Commissioner for 5 out of every 15 years,”

he explained.

On the treaty’s threat to neutrality, the local TD said

“[The Lisbon Treaty] creates an EU Foreign Minister and common defence and foreign policies, and allows the EU to act on the international stage in the same way as a state and to speak on our behalf. It erodes neutrality by drawing us into a common defence and obliging us to increase military spending.”

“We have seen a significant level of concern from within our farming community about the current round of World Trade Organisation talks. Irish farmers and development NGOs are rightly concerned at the agenda being pursued by European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson, an agenda that is bad for Irish farmers and the developing world.”

Deputy Ó Caoláin said

This Saturday, 31 May, Ógra Shinn Féin will host a special event entitled ‘Rock Against the Treaty’. Four local rock bands will play in concert in McKenna’s bar in a call for young people to get out and vote No on June 12 next.