Surely one of the greatest things about politics and public life in this country is that we have a written constitution. A relatively simple document (not counting millions of pages of judgements which are effectively part of it), which of course gives rise to our referendums on Europe.

The Crotty Judgement is often misinterpreted as meaning we have to have a referendum on every treaty. A careful read of it shows this is not the case. It is more accurate to say that only major transfers of sovereignty or changes in the nature and reach of the EU require referendums. As the Government has never published or really commented on the AG’s advice in this area it is hard to know the precise reasons for each referendum.

However it is reasonably clear that having a written constitution increases our prediliction for European referendums. We have seen fit to vote 6 times in 25 years on Europe putting us top of the referendum charts, with Lisbon 2 being our seventh go at relatively similar issues.  

Such a fixation makes us prey for a whole load of others who have an interest in these topics. I suppose generally it is a good thing to have others take an interest and I don’t go along with the idea that it’s not anybody else’s business. However what I think most people would like to think was that outside involvement in a referendum here (remember SIPO makes it illegal for non Irish people to donate to a campaign) is at the invitation of Irish people or groups and respects some of the basics of our democracy and culture. In the end of the day I am far from convinced about it’s effectiveness anyway. Of late it is UK based groups that are showing a renewed interest in our debate. It’s a bit like the Battle of the Boyne all over again, English interests fighting out their European battles in Ireland.

Lisbon 2 promises to be a new watermark in this regard with UKIP and Nigel Farage promising to put in an appearance. UKIP of course welcomed the last Irish vote by using the national flag instead of beer mats in Kitty O’Sheas. A former leader opined that Ireland was a land of peasants and pixies and several of their MEPs have been prosecuted for various types of fraud and malpractice…takes all sorts I suppose

The Daily Mail’s Irish edition has similarly thrown it’s lot in with the Irish No campaign, along with the Trade Union Unite. While Unite have several Irish members they still like to categorise us as a region of somewhere…presumably the UK. The BNP European Election manifesto incidentally committed them to re-incorporating Ireland into the UK

Again I’m sanguine enough about all this and don’t believe in the little Irelander approach. What do these guys feel they will bring to the debate? Are our own naysayers not up to the job given that they have actually won two referendums.

Well one thing some of them bring is a good shot of honesty. UKIP state clearly that they wish to withdraw from the EU. Yes I said withdraw form the EU. Now nobody amongst the Irish No campaign on the surface advocates that. Of course they have campaigned against every referendum to date but they are all very clear in saying that the like Europe as it is. That’s quite a statement if you opposed all the building blocks that make it what it is like QMV, supremacy of EU law and the common institutions.

So roll on UKIP and their hangers on, let’s have the real debate that our No side won’t have. Under the surface many No campaigners don’t want the EU as it is, they oppose any move to QMV which brought us workers rights, better environmental legislation and the single market. They oppose the very notion of the EU Commisison which watches out for smaller states and pulls up the Microsoft’s of this world, they want only co-operation amongst independent states which is a charter for domination by the large states. They want no military role thus abandoning Bosnia, Kosovo and many more to the ethnic cleansers.

At least UKIP have the honesty to come out and say what the real agenda is, to leave the EU and to halt it’s progress. If only the Irish No campaign accorded us with the same honesty.