BUNCRANA-based
Councillor Pádraig MacLochlainn will be confirmed
next week as the Sinn Féin campaign director for the
Lisbon Treaty referendum.
He will be appointed to the role on Tuesday when the
party launches its treaty campaign at Buswell's
Hotel, Dublin.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Colr MacLochlainn
said: "I am really excited about this challenge.
Already it is clear to me, from party meetings that
I have attended across the country in recent months,
that our grassroots members and supporters are
really up for this campaign.
"Our party feel strongly that this treaty is not a
good deal for Ireland and on the basis of that, we
will fight a confident campaign backed up by the
facts and mature and reasoned debate."
Sinn Féin is expected to be the only larger party in
the country campaigning for a no vote in the
referendum.
"As a party with two MEPS, we clearly believe that
Ireland's place is within the European Union. There
is no denying the many benefits that have come to
Ireland as a result of our membership but moves
towards greater integration are simply not in this
country's interest," added Cllr. MacLochlainn.
"The Lisbon Treaty will involve the most substantial
transfer of powers from member states to the
European Council and Commission to date with 105 new
powers. The influence of smaller states will be
reduced as the dominance of the larger states is
consolidated."
Sinn Féin also believes militarisation of the EU
will be accelerated and an economic agenda based on
a "race to the bottom" for wages and workers' rights
will be greatly advanced.
"At EU level we see the incremental development of
an EU Army, in all but name and at home the use of
Shannon Airport by US troops on their way to wage
war in Iraq," added Cllr. MacLochlainn.
"Much has been made by proponents of the Lisbon
Treaty that its core rationale is the need to end
the deadlock of administering an enlarged EU and its
supporting institutions.
"This is simply not true. Many who work within the
European Union apparatus argue that it has never
worked more efficiently. But whatever your view on
the institutions efficiency it simply does not make
sense that increased militarism, liberalisation and
centralisation will somehow make the EU work better
in the interests of ordinary people." |
