Madam, - A great deal of heat is being generated about the implications for Ireland of rejection of the Reform Treaty/Treaty of Lisbon. While there would be significant political fall-out from such an outcome what really matters are the implications for the EU as a whole.
Failure to ratify the treaty would thrust the European Union back into the introspection of the "period of reflection" when what is clearly needed is an end, for the foreseeable future, of the institutional debates which have dragged on since the Nice compromises.
With the treaty ratified the EU has the opportunity to move forward on the demanding agenda of globalisation, climate change, energy, world development and global poverty, migration and international security. That is what really matters for Ireland.
With reference to the presumably disinterested remarks of Conor O'Brien (December 8th), I can state that I have been proudly associated with the Labour Party for the past 40 years and that, as a pensioner, I have no career interest in the outcome of the referendum. - Yours, etc,
TONY BROWN, Bettyglen, Raheny, Dublin 5.
Madam, - Insofar as I had given it any thought, I expected I would vote Yes in the forthcoming Lisbon Treaty referendum.
However, in light of the European Court's ruling disallowing Swedish trade unions from enforcing local pay deals on foreign companies (The Irish Times, December 19th) - a ruling which may have grave consequences for the Irish labour market - I am now almost certain I shall vote No.
If, as it seems, EU law is prepared to facilitate a "race to the bottom", and is more concerned with preserving corporate profits than the rights of workers, it is time to shout "Stop!" - Yours, etc,
PETER FORDE, Rochford Avenue, Kilcock, Co Kildare.