The Socialist Party launched its No to Nice campaign in Dublin today saying a Yes vote would lead to more privatisation and job losses.
Speaking at the launch Mr Joe Higgins, TD, emphasised Article 133 of the Nice Treaty calling it the "forgotten article". He said: "Workers and consumers will be the losers with Article 133."
The Article states: "the common commercial policy shall be based on uniform principles, particularly in regard to changes in tariff rates, the conclusion of tariff and trade agreements, the achievement of uniformity in measures of liberalisation, export policy and measures to protect trade such as those to be taken in the event of dumping or subsidies."
Mr Higgins said: "In reality, Article 133 lays the basis for the wholesale obligatory privitisation of crucial services including water, electricity and even the post office."
"Privitisation means wholesale job losses," he added.
Councillor Clare Daly said: "the Socialist Party rejects the thrust of the economic policies provided for in Nice Treaty. We campaign instead for a Europe for working people, where publicly owned services are developed for the community not for the super profits of major multinational companies."
Meanwhile, Afri (Action from Ireland) also launched its No to Nice campaign in Dublin today.
Speaking at the launch Professor John Maguire, author of Defending Peace: Ireland's Role in a Changing Europe, said: "A vote for the Nice Treaty would further the corruption of Irish foreign and defence policy arising from our acquiescence in EU militarisation."
Professor Maguire accused the Government of betraying the UN, through its continued membership of the "NATO-influenced" European Rapid Reaction Force.
He said: "The central concern was Ireland’s continued membership of the ERRF, with ill-defined tasks including ‘peacemaking’, which is effectively combat. The corrupting effect of this involvement was not addressed in the Seville Declarations."
