FORUM ON EUROPE:THE PRESIDENT of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, gave a passionate defence of the Lisbon Treaty at the Forum on Europe yesterday, after he was attacked in strong language by some of the No campaign groups represented at the forum.
The former Green Party MEP, Patricia McKenna, accused Mr Barroso of gross interference in the internal affairs of this State and also attacked his credibility, saying he had a lot in common with the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern.
She claimed the commission president had not been able to provide a satisfactory explanation for the fact that he received a gift worth thousands of euro from a billionaire businessman who was later in receipt of a regional aid grant. She was referring to 2005 reports that he and his wife were on a private yacht in Greece.
"Mr Barroso's reaction at the time was one of denial. He stated, 'hospitality is a normal fact of private life'. For many Irish people this will have a familiar ring," said Ms McKenna.
Socialist Party leader Joe Higgins also attacked Mr Barroso, saying the memo leaked by the British had shown that the Irish Government and the European Commission had conspired to suppress debate in the run-up to the referendum on the treaty.
But Progressive Democrat representative Mae Sexton deplored the personalised attacks on Mr Barroso, saying he was a guest of the forum and she welcomed his presence.
Mr Barroso himself rejected the claim that he was interfering in Irish affairs. "I came here because I was invited. If not I would not have come," he said.
In his speech to the forum he said the Lisbon Treaty was necessary for three reasons. The first was for efficiency, to make the EU work better; the second was to provide accountability and give the people a greater say over what Brussels can and cannot do; and the third was to give Europe a stronger voice in the world.
"The Lisbon Treaty, if ratified, will bring several changes to make the EU more efficient and effective. The European Council, which sets the main policy directions for the EU, will have a president. This new post will help to ensure continuity between meetings. Continuity is particularly important when you think of the long-term challenges facing us. Our present system of rotating presidencies that change every six months cannot do this.
"We will have more qualified majority voting, which should help to speed up decision-making.
"However, here in Ireland, knowing that taxation is a sensitive issue, I would like to underline the fact that the Lisbon Treaty does not change the rules on taxation. They remain subject to unanimity, giving each member state a veto. Nothing can be agreed on taxation issues without Ireland's consent and nothing can be imposed on Ireland.
"Making the union more accountable to citizens is another key feature of the treaty. I reject the idea that 'Brussels' is some kind of superstate, taking decisions behind closed doors, very far away from 'the people'. We hold more public consultations than ever before so that people can be involved and make their views known," he said.
Mr Barroso said that the eyes of Europe, if not the world, would be on Ireland in the run-up to the referendum.
"On June 12th the Irish people will be sending a message to the rest of Europe and the wider world. I hope that it is one that says you want a more efficient, effective and accountable Europe."
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, welcomed Mr Barroso to the forum and said that membership of the EU had been an overwhelmingly positive experience for Ireland.
"For this reason Ireland has nothing to fear and everything to gain by supporting the treaty," said the Minister.
The Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny, said the referendum would be the first in Ireland that was not about money but was about a vision of the world and the Irish place in the world. He said it was a privilege and a responsibility for four million Irish people to decide the fate of 500 million people across the continent.
Mary Lou McDonald of Sinn Féin maintained that proposals for a consolidated tax base across the EU had been deferred to the autumn for fear of a negative reaction in Ireland, and she said it was unacceptable that the commission should act in this fashion. "No way, José," she said.
Senator Feargal Quinn also expressed reservations about the long-term implications of tax changes, while Seamus O'Brien of the Irish Farmers' Association said there were fears among farmers that beef and dairy production would follow the same path as the sugar industry.
