Sinn Féin today claimed the Lisbon treaty would have serious consequences for Irish public services by advancing the liberalisation of that sector.
Speaking at Leinster House, Sinn Féin health spokesman Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said there was a “clear desire” within the European Commission and many EU governments to open members’ markets in public services such as health and education to competition.
He warned there were “clear consequences” when such public services are opened up to competition.
“Treating health care or education as commodities to be traded on the market creates inequalities in access to public services. . . . Opening public services to competition actively undermines universal access to healthcare, and forces reliance on private insurance.”
Mr Ó Caoláin said such liberalisation puts downward pressure on wages.
“It also undermines the long term viability of the public sector, as the private sector cherry picks the most “profitable” sectors, thus undermining vital revenue streams through which the public sector subsidies the unprofitable sectors.”
Sinn Féin’s leader in the Dáil said Article 16 of the Lisbon Treaty gives the EU new powers to apply “economic and financial conditions” on the rules of competition and restrictions on state aid.
“The European Commission and the European Court of Justice clearly regard large aspects of public services, such as health and education, as economic in nature and therefore subject to Article 16."
Mr Ó Caoláin added that Article 188 allows for the inclusion of health, education and social services in international trade agreements. He said the two articles would enable the EC to open up areas of European public services to internal competition and international trade.
