Lisbon Treaty & Fianna Fáil will both damage our economy – Kelly

Please note in launching this site we have uploaded past statements made by Sinn Féin in the Swords area. This post is one that was made prior to the second Lisbon referendum


Speaking in response to Minister for Foreign Affairs
Micheál Martin's claim that the Lisbon Treaty was good for workers and
the economy Sinn Féin Swords representative Conor Kelly said:

“The two single biggest threats to our economy are Fianna Fail in
government and the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty.

“Fianna Fail's mismanagement of the economy is directly responsible for
spiralling unemployment, the banking crisis, the public deficit and the
crisis in our public services. Neither Micheál Martin nor any other
member of this government are in a position to advise the electorate on
what is and is not in our economic interests. Indeed if the Minister was
truly interested in getting the Irish economy back on the road to
recovery he would advise his Fianna Fáil and Green Party colleagues to
resign.

“Micheal Martin’s claims that the Lisbon Treaty would assist economic
recovery and protect workers rights are equally spurious. Indeed in his
lengthy statement today he did not reference a single article in the
Treaty that would help create jobs or promote workers pay and
conditions.

“In Sinn Fein's view ratifying the Lisbon Treaty will have the opposite
effect to that claimed by Micheál Martin. Article 16 gives the European
Commission new powers to subject services to the rules of competition
which will undermine vital public services such as health and education.
Article 188C gives the Commission increased powers for the negotiation
and conclusion of international trade agreements which will effectively
end the Irish government's veto over mixed international trade deals and
undermine the viability of many of the countries family farms. The
Protocol on the Internal Market and Competition mandates the EU to
remove all so called 'distortions' to competition, which will be used by
both the European Commission and European Court of Justice to further
undermine workers pay and conditions.

“These are just three of the sections of the Lisbon Treaty that are bad
for the Irish economy and for ordinary working people.

“The Lisbon Treaty was drafted by the very same right wing politicians
who led Ireland and the EU into recession. It contains many of the same
right wing policies that have underpinned the recession. The fact that
Fianna Fáil are calling for people to support Lisbon, at the very same
time as calling for support for NAMA and savage cutbacks to health and
education, should be reason enough to realise that it is a bad deal for
Ireland and Europe.

“On this basis the Lisbon Treaty should be rejected by the electorate on
October 2nd
_________________
Conor Kelly