Sunday, December 11, 2011

The EU Treaty and Ireland

More from Friend of Blog, Helen, Ireland.




“Well I must say Cameron is certainly getting some good press out of all of this, (even if it is mostly in England.) Europe can’t understand it but, I don’t think he had any choice in this given the Franco/German stance. Sarkozy doesn’t stand a prayer for re-election and sees Merkel’s coat tails as the only way to keep himself centre stage. The value of saving the Euro is questionable. Will chaos ensue? Yes I think it will for a while, but I am not sure that is not what we have now. As for Britain well I am glad they said ‘NO’. They are a huge contributor to the EU and I think it is wrong to side line them. England often seems to lack pride and identity, if this helps, it is a good thing. Quite how it will play out in the next couple of weeks will be very interesting. At the moment the markets seem to be responding positively to this “federalised Europe” but I give it maximum 10 days (maybe into the New Year) before another EU members debt crisis upsets the apple cart again. Cameron may well have reason to be smug. I know from the Irish situation that it can be very demoralising to think that you are not in charge of your own destiny. That you are being ‘nannied’. It is probably a cheap shot to suggest that Germany and France are trying to take over Europe, the fact is that through lack of clear leadership and geographic location they have no choice. Committees rarely work in a crisis, unless you have a good Chairperson. I really don’t think the Irish have fully woken up yet to how much sovereignty they have given away. They have always been fairly pro-Europe in the past because they have had massive investment. E.U rules and regulations were readily adopted, although not always adhered to. There is a saying that ‘Byelaws are for going by’. The Irish were happy to take virtually all that was given. They only started to grumble when things stopped going their way. Frankly I am amazed that there has not been more upset in general about Europe’s involvement. Disgust has typically focussed on the previous government. Enda Kenny had no choice but, to agree to whatever Merkel and Sarkozy cooked up. Ireland has much to loose but he is scrabbling for crumbs. He desperately wants to protect this low corporation tax rate but this new system will do away with all that, despite what he says. Yet again Ireland is selling itself short. Enda has asked the Attorney General to examine the constitution to see if we need a referendum for a new treaty. Of course we do, but they know that the public are unlikely to go for it or be conned again. The last thing the deciding powers in Europe want is for this sort of decision to be left to referendum. Ultimately that is my main problem with the EU. It is unelected and therefore in my book undemocratic. The system is flawed.”







Folks do you agree with FOB, Helen of Ireland, lets this blog know, do you think Ireland was right and should give up its Sovereignty for the benefit of the EU, in this case France and Germany. Should there be a Referendum in Ireland, should the first vote be the decider, how many Irish wish they had a PM like David Cameron, a PM who said NO. Think folks it is your Country or do the EU now own Ireland.






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