Posted on 05/28/2005 4:46:39 PM PDT by Righty_McRight
DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland will go ahead with its referendum on the European constitution even if France rejects it in a crucial poll on Sunday.
After the government published a bill on Thursday to enable a referendum to be held, Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern said: "We will proceed in any event. Renegotiation is not on the agenda."
EU officials say if France votes "No" by a large margin, the treaty is probably doomed. Two new polls put French opposition at 55 percent and a third at 54 percent.
Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, eager to defuse "No" campaigners, on Friday denied the constitution would bring neutral Ireland closer to being involved in a military alliance.
"The existing prohibition in the Irish constitution on Ireland's participation in any EU common defence will remain," Ahern wrote in the Irish Times.
"There is nothing in the European constitution that affects our policy of military neutrality or the triple lock," he added.
The so-called "triple lock" means that a government decision, parliamentary approval and U.N. authorisation would all be needed before Irish troops are committed to any overseas operation.
No date has been set yet for the referendum in Ireland, which has been a major benefactor from EU cash to update its poor infrastructure.
Neutrality is one of the most sensitive political issue in Ireland.
Ahern's government came under heavy domestic criticism last year for allowing U.S. jets to refuel at Shannon airport in western Ireland en route to the Middle East.
Among the leading opponents in Ireland of the EU constitution is Sinn Fein, political ally of the Irish Republican Army campaigning to end British rule in Northern Ireland. Ireland's neutrality is its major concern.
With publication of the referendum bill now giving Ireland the legislative basis for staging a referendum, Europe now looks set again to take a much more central role in Irish politics.
Pitching a "Yes" vote to his compatriots, Ahern said: "The constitution reflects Europe's values, extends new rights to Europe's citizens, strengthens Europe's role in the world and simplifies decision-making in the enlarged EU."
Would it pass there?
PING
It will eventually. It does not matter what the vote is. Ireland voted NO to the Nice treaty, and after a few cosmetic changes the referendum was held again and the public here was sufficiently badgered into voting YES by ALL the main parties, massive govt subsidized TV campaign and endless finger wagging by Jacques, Gerhard and co.
Unfortunately, FReepers cannot post the paper here anymore because the paper banned it (my theory is because the paper's boss, Tony O'Reilly, was also chairman of Heinz Ireland - flattering to think that the Kerry camp were afraid of a few Irish FReepers!), but I'll chance posting a link to the article (registration necessary):
Why we should hope for a French 'Non' to EU constitution
One interesting passage from the article:
In spite of Chirac's efforts, the far left refuse to support the EU constitution. They believe it will allow the evils of Anglo-American capitalism to infect France. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. If anything, the constitution reads more like a modern Communist Manifesto.
it's free to register at http://www.Unison.ie and some of these Articles make it well worth it.
I have registered already - I posted many articles from the Sindo, until we were stopped!
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