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The same Treaty should get the same Answer: No!

In June 2008 the Irish voters rejected the Lisbon Treaty despite pressure and threads from leading politicians of the bigger EU states. The No was the result of an united campaign of different progressive groups like Sinn Féin, the Campaign Against the EU Constitution (CAEUC) – of which Sinn Féin has been a member – trade unions, PANA, the People's Movement and others. Sinn Féin was the only group organised in and campaigning across every constituency in Ireland.

It's interesting to once again have a look at the analysis of Eoin ó Broin, the then Policy Director of Sinn Féin's Lisbon Treaty Referendum Campaign:
>>>> 19. June 2008: Eoin ó Broin: We won but the hard work is just beginning

Alternative Guide to Lisbon 2

On October, 2nd, the South of Ireland has to vote again on the Lisbon Treaty. With no respect for last year's no-vote the Irish Government was pressurized by the dominant states of the EU to have another vote to get a different result. There is no change in the treaty, some non binding side declarations are to make Irish people belief their concerns would be taken into account. The campaign for the second No is up and running. Sinn Féin compiled a "Alternative Guide to Lisbon 2":

The Lisbon Treaty was a bad deal for Ireland when it was presented to the people last year and it remains the very same bad deal. Sinn Féin will continue to campaign for a better deal for Ireland and for Europe. In order to get a better deal we must reject this treaty once again.

PDF Download (12 pages, 3MB)

Sinn Féin: 5 Key reasons to Vote No to the Lisbon Treaty:
  1. It is a bad deal for Ireland and has already been rejected by the Irish people.
  2. It reduces Ireland’s power in the EU – we will lose our permanent commissioner and our voting strength on the Council will be cut by half while the bigger states double their strength.
  3. It will make the economic crisis even worse by forcing through policies that caused the recession, reducing the Irish government’s ability to take essential decisions, driving down pay and conditions and further undermining our public services.
  4. It erodes neutrality by drawing us into a common defence and obliging us to increase military spending.
  5. It removes our automatic right to a referendum on future changes to existing treaties.

>>>> Source: Sinn Féin's website: campaign for a second no on the Lison Treaty
>>>> Campaign Against the EU Constitution (CAEUC)


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