Trinity Ógra Discuss EU Reform Treaty with Mary Lou McDonald MEP

Last week Mary Lou McDonald MEP for Dublin addressed a public meetingon Sinn Fein's vision for Europe organised by the Uí Chadhain/Tone Cumann of Trinity College Dublin.


Mary Lou was keen to stress the need for an open and frank debate about where the latest EU Reform Treaty/EU Constitution II was leading Ireland and the rest of Europe.

She began by saying that she was not anti- European and that she realised that Ireland had to remain competitive but that the Reform Treaty would remove democratic control from the Irish people and strengthen unaccountable central EU structures in sectors that would have a major impact on the Irish people.

Mary Lou was keen to point out that this Treaty should not be viewed in isolation but as the latest in a long line of Treaty's that have succeeded in starting the process of European federalism. She compared the open and frank debate that regularly occurs in Germany about European federalism and the debate in France prior to the EU Constitution vote in 2005 (when the French people voted 'no' to theTreaty despite the major parties advocating it) with the attitude of the Fianna Fail/ PD/ Green government who are attempting to 'pull thewool' over the electorates eyes.

The issue Irish neutrality has been key especially to ensure the safety of 26 county defence force troops being working as peace keepers in many war zones around the world and how that will be threatened by the militarization of the EU.

Mary Lou also questioned the government's assertion that the reduction in EU Commissioners from 27 to 18 was a necessary development giventhat the current government of the 26 counties requires 20 junior ministers.

If ratified, the Reform Treaty will allow the EU to assume power over areas of justice and home affairs taking power away from the Irish people and placing it in the hands of unaccountable and undemocratic bodies who seek to create a European super state.

Leas Cathaoirleach Trinity ÓSF, Seamus Donnelly had this to say:

"The meeting demonstrated the need for Ógra cumainn across the 26counties to be preparing themselves for a vigorous campaign on the EUReform Treaty/ EU Constitution II. It is essential and the very basisof our struggle that the Irish and only the Irish people can choose their way forward and the society they want. Ógra activists should bein no doubt that the up-coming referendum is of the greatest importance."