Ireland 'can only gain by rejecting treaty'
30/09/2009 - 19:55:07
Ireland has nothing to lose and everything to gain by voting no to the Lisbon Treaty, Libertas leader Declan Ganley said today.The millionaire businessman said the EU reform package had not changed at all since the Irish people rejected it last year during the first ballot.
Legal guarantees hammered out with the leaders of other member states earlier this year on neutrality, tax and family issues were meaningless, he added.
“They put a gun to our heads, the gun is empty, there’s nothing harmful that can come from a no vote,” he declared during his final salvo in a second anti-Lisbon campaign, which he had said he wouldn’t get involved in.
“We cannot possibly get a worse deal than what is in the Lisbon Treaty. We can definitely get a better deal.”
Mr Ganley said if the EU deal is backed by the Irish electorate it would see the transfer of power in more than 60 key decision areas away from Dublin to Brussels.
It would result in an unelected president of Europe and would do nothing to help job creation or help economic recovery in Ireland, he claimed.
The controversial campaigner, who failed to get elected to the European parliament in June, also said the only way to keep an Irish EU commissioner is by voting no on Friday.
Mr Ganley argued that only under the existing Nice Treaty can Ireland nominate its own commissioner.
Accusing the Government of refusing to accept the country’s “sovereign decision” last time around, he said voters could now choose whether they wanted three more years of Taoiseach Brian Cowen or three more days.
“They’ve tried to hoodwink us, they wouldn’t listen to us, they wouldn’t respect our democratic decision,” he said.
“Millions of people across Europe have voted no to this same formula and have been ignored.
“Democracy is at question here.”
Related Stories:
30/09/2009: Ireland 'can only gain by rejecting treaty'
30/09/2009: Friday will be last Lisbon vote, says Cowen
30/09/2009: Daughter of referendum case winner urges 'No' vote
30/09/2009: Car showroom takes poll position for referendum
30/09/2009: 'Yes' vote 'will destroy Irish fishing industry'
30/09/2009: Islanders cast first votes on Lisbon Treaty
30/09/2009: ‘No’ group slams multinational interference in Lisbon
30/09/2009: Cowen rules out third Lisbon referendum
30/09/2009: Final push for Lisbon Treaty poll
29/09/2009: Trade unions urge workers to back treaty
29/09/2009: Insults traded as Lisbon vote nears
29/09/2009: Voters urged not to use Lisbon to hit Govt
29/09/2009: Adams hits out at Labour ‘hypocrisy’ on Lisbon
29/09/2009: Grafton Street to host street meeting on Lisbon
28/09/2009: Anti-Lisbon group says ‘No’ vote would topple Govt
28/09/2009: Gormley: FÁS scandal distracting from Lisbon campaign
28/09/2009: Irish food industry in call for a 'Yes' vote
28/09/2009: SF: Lisbon is bad deal for Ireland
28/09/2009: ‘Yes’ side ahead as campaign enters final days
26/09/2009: Thousands of non-Irish residents sent polling cards
26/09/2009: Political parties to intensify Lisbon Treaty campaigns
25/09/2009: SFA calls for Yes vote in Lisbon
25/09/2009: Germany ratifies Lisbon Treaty
25/09/2009: Irish food industry supports Lisbon Treaty
25/09/2009: SF and Unite rubbish workers’ rights declaration
25/09/2009: ‘Yes’ camp still well ahead in latest Lisbon poll
24/09/2009: Dáil to begin two-week Lisbon break
23/09/2009: ‘Yes’ campaign continues to dominate press coverage
22/09/2009: Gilmore: Lisbon debate dominated by misinformation
22/09/2009: Cowen's Lisbon comments 'unhelpful': ICTU
22/09/2009: Lisbon opponents say ‘Yes’ vote will end neutrality
22/09/2009: Higgins attacks Church stance on Lisbon Treaty
22/09/2009: Large majority of farmers to support Lisbon
21/09/2009: Majority of business leaders support ‘Yes’ vote
20/09/2009: McDowell launches pro-Lisbon campaign
20/09/2009: Kenny announces series Lisbon meetings at billboard launch
20/09/2009: High level of public understanding of Lisbon, says report
19/09/2009: Lisbon Treaty 'will help tackle crime', claims Ahern
18/09/2009: Lisbon must be ratified for economic recovery, claims Cowen
18/09/2009: IBEC: Minimum wage posters rotten to the 'Coir'
18/09/2009: McCreevy: Ireland can’t afford to reject Lisbon Treaty
18/09/2009: Burton: UK Independence Party are 'extreme right-wingers'
17/09/2009: O’Dea hits back at anti-Lisbon neutrality claims
17/09/2009: Martin attacks ‘no to Lisbon’ campaigners
16/09/2009: MEPs set to back new Barroso term
15/09/2009: Lisbon Treaty: SF launches poster campaign for ‘No’ vote
15/09/2009: FG pledges to legislate for collective bargaining
14/09/2009: Women's group calls for 'No' vote in referendum
14/09/2009: IBEC says 'Yes' vote important for exports
13/09/2009: Ganley's 'No to Lisbon' campaign to be low-key
13/09/2009: Debate intensifies over workers' rights in Lisbon Treaty
13/09/2009: Ganley reveals reasons for Lisbon return
12/09/2009: Poll shows strong support for Lisbon
12/09/2009: Ganley to spearhead 'No' campaign against Lisbon
12/09/2009: Unions divided over Lisbon Treaty referendum
12/09/2009: EU's Rasmussen to canvass for Yes to Lisbon
11/09/2009: Ganley may return to campaign against Lisbon
11/09/2009: Most economists support ‘Yes’ vote, says survey
10/09/2009: Voters 'set to use referendum for anti-Government protest vote'
10/09/2009: Lisbon to dominate agenda at Labour meeting
08/09/2009: Lisbon rejection would cost jobs, claims Cowen
08/09/2009: Councillors unite against Lisbon Treaty
07/09/2009: People Before Profit Alliance calls for ‘No’ vote
07/09/2009: Small businesses back Lisbon Treaty
06/09/2009: Cowen to explain Lisbon Treaty stance
06/09/2009: Ireland for Europe launches 'Yes to Lisbon' campaign
05/09/2009: Adams urges No vote to Lisbon
05/09/2009: Sinn Féin holds meeting on Lisbon
05/09/2009: Political parties plan their Lisbon strategies
04/09/2009: Green Party urges Yes to Lisbon
04/09/2009: Dempsey urges undecided to vote ‘Yes’
04/09/2009: Support for Lisbon drops
03/09/2009: SIPTU National Executive backs Lisbon Treaty
03/09/2009: Lisbon Treaty assurances 'are binding'
03/09/2009: Farmer loses bid to prevent Lisbon vote
03/09/2009: Barroso sets out agenda for second EU term
03/09/2009: Fine Gael launches Lisbon campaign
03/09/2009: ISME urges 'Yes' for Lisbon
03/09/2009: Commission launches Lisbon Treaty guide
03/09/2009: Fine Gael to launch Lisbon Treaty campaign
02/09/2009: IBEC: Ireland's reputation needs to be restored
02/09/2009: Chambers Ireland calls for wage claims to be clarified
02/09/2009: Fianna Fáil launches Lisbon campaign
02/09/2009: Consumers' Association supports Lisbon Treaty
02/09/2009: Fianna Fáil to launch Lisbon campaign
01/09/2009: Pro-Lisbon campaign launches 'lie finder' website
01/09/2009: McKenna: Referendum leaflet 'not impartial'
01/09/2009: Condensed guide to Lisbon Treaty launched
01/09/2009: Charter Group says Lisbon will advance workplace rights
31/08/2009: Pro-Lisbon business group rejects €1.84 minimum wage claims
31/08/2009: UNITE union urges Lisbon 'no'
