Madam, - I am somewhat shocked by the breathtaking arrogance displayed in the letter headed "Citizens have right to vote on EU Reform Treaty" (October 19th).
The signatories point out that there are similarities between this treaty and the Constitutional Treaty. I would apply the logic of Mr John Hume when he said the Good Friday Agreement was "Sunningdale for slow learners". It is true that many of the provisions are the same; however, there are some differences born out of the concerns expressed during the "period of reflection". As Richard Corbett MEP said recently, "It has been discovered that humans and mice are genetically 90 per cent the same. It is the 10 per cent that makes the difference."
The signatories go on to "demand" a referendum in every EU state. I wonder how Dr Coughlan et al. would feel if Ireland were precluded by other countries from having a referendum. I have no doubt that this would elicit a list of further "demands". It is not up to the EU or the Irish Republic to dictate to other sovereign nations how they should conduct their democratic affairs, nor should one forget that the referendum process has different connotations in other political cultures where it was used as a facilitator of tyranny in times past.
Finally, I note with wry humour "demand" number three: the call for a "real and unbiased debate". I recall a debate from my student days at which Anthony Coughlan warned that by the time I was 30 I would face conscription into an EU army. Madam, I too support the call for a "real and unbiased debate".
- Yours, etc,
BRENDAN KIELY, Executive Director, European Movement Ireland, 10 Merrion Square, Dublin 2.