It is hard to know where to start on reading Angus O’Snodaigh’s views on the current situation with regard to the Lisbon Treaty recently in the Irish Times. Rather like Ian Paisley of old and the latter day rejectionist unionists Sinn Fein see the need to say No in so many different ways regardless of what is on offer.

Maybe we will start with the greatest inaccuracies and work our way down.

I was stunned to see Mr. O’Snodaigh regurgitate the discredited Article 48 argument. He says “This article allows the Council of Ministers, by unanimous decision, to alter the text of existing EU treaties” and then goes on to imply this is some major change. He completely ignores the fact that it is clearly stated in the same article (48.4 and 48.6) that in relation to the ordinary and simplified revision procedure “The amendments shall enter into force after being ratified by all the Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional requirements”

In Ireland this means a referendum. Furthermore the EU currently has no competence in the area of direct taxation, so such a revision would give rise to a new competence. It is clearly stated later in 48.6 “The decision referred to in the second subparagraph shall not increase the competences conferred on the Union in the Treaties”

So all these procedures need a referendum in Ireland and the Government has said it is opposed to harmonization, the EU has no competence in the area, the text says it can’t happen and the guarantees reinforce this, but still Sinn Fein cry wolf!

While Sinn Fein’s position on militarisation gives rise to a wry smile what is it that they mean? Irish troops currently serve in Bosnia, Kosovo and Chad under the EU and with a U.N. mandate; these are the operations that the EU security and defence policy and the Defence Agency are designed to support. Believe it or not these forces have guns, use troop carriers and are “militarised”

Should the people of these countries not have the chance of reconciliation that Sinn Fein worked so hard for in Northern Ireland? Sinn Fein seem quick to forget how EU member states supported our peace process the least they could do now is to support the EU as it seeks to do the same elsewhere.

Neutrality says Mr. O’Snodaigh is not only what you do with your troops; it is also about alliances you form. Indeed, we can clearly see what alliances Sinn Fein formed when neutrality was developed during World War Two and they were not pretty ones.

Where are the reduced voting weights at Council that he speaks of? Gerry Adams at the Forum on Europe couldn’t stand up this argument either. The double majority voting changes some aspects of population but maintains the idea that for something to become law it must have the support of 55% of the member states, as is the case today! The only Treaty that guarantees the loss of a Commissioner is Nice, only Lisbon gives a legal basis to the member states to change this.

 Sinn Fein will have to do a lot better than this critique to persuade people of their view on such a momentous decision for our country.