McDonald advises voters to read treaty articles

ARTICLES 11 and 28 of the Lisbon Treaty should be read by voters before they vote, according to Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald, who was in Shannon last week. Ms McDonald attended a ‘peace conference’ organised by the Peace and Neutrality Alliance and the Irish Anti War Movement.
She was speaking on the Lisbon Treaty clauses, which she believes are leading to a loss of Irish control over the country’s foreign policy and represent a drift away from neutrality.

“My contribution was on Lisbon and neutrality. In it I pointed out that our position was greatly undermined with the use of Shannon Airport and the Lisbon Treaty is another nail in the coffin,” she told The Clare Champion.

The former MEP claimed that the treaty will, in fact, have far-reaching implications for this country’s traditional neutrality.
“It envisages a deepening relationship with NATO and requires more military spending. It expands the range of military tasks the EU will undertake and allows for ‘permanent structured co-operation’. Ireland couldn’t be forced to take part in this but if something was carried out in the name of the EU, Ireland would be implicated.”
She also said that the creation of a position similar to that of a Foreign Affairs Minister for Europe was objectionable.
Moving towards pan-EU policies and representation wasn’t good for Ireland, she claimed. “We have a very different history and we don’t share the same outlook as many of our partner states in Europe, and we’re being asked to concede some very dangerous things to EU level.”
She urged the public to read Articles 11 and 28 of the treaty. Both articles are rather long but are related to foreign policy.
The first part of Article 11 states, “The Union’s competence in matters of common foreign and security policy shall cover all areas of foreign policy and all questions relating to the Union’s security, including the progressive framing of a common defence policy that might lead to a common defence.”
A section of Article 28 states, “The common security and defence policy shall be an integral part of the common foreign and security policy. It shall provide the Union with an operation capacity drawing on civilian and military assets. The Union may use them on missions outside the Union for peace-keeping, conflict prevention and strengthening international security in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter.”
The article also refers to a common defence policy, but takes cognisance of individual Member State’s constitutions.
“The common security and defence policy shall include the progressive framing of a common Union defence policy. This will lead to a common defence, when the European Council, acting unanimously, so decides. It shall in that case recommend to the Member States the adoption of such a decision in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements.”
The article also makes reference to improving military strength.
“Member States shall undertake progressively to improve their military capabilities. The agency in the field of defence capabilities development, research, acquisition and armaments shall identify operation requirements, shall promote measures to satisfy those requirements, shall contribute to identifying and, where appropriate, implementing any measure needed to strengthen the industrial and technological base of the defence sector, shall participate in defining a European capabilities and armaments policy and shall assist the Council in evaluating the improvement of military capabilities.”
The full text of these articles and the whole treaty can be read online at www.lisbontreaty2009.ie.
Ms McDonald also claimed that the treaty has failed to protect workers rights, either in its first or second incarnations. She also claimed that the Government hasn’t made significant changes since the failed referendum last summer.
“After Lisbon I failed, we put together a document and said this is what we need to argue in favour of it. Instead, they have just put in long political statements that don’t change the treaty one iota,” she said.