Sir, - The electorate is being told by the Yes camp that this referendum is about enlargement, and allowing new member-states to join the EU. But admission of new member-states has never required such approval. Readers will recall that we never had a referendum for any of the six member-states which joined since we became members in 1973. In fact, EU governments wish to "fine tune" the EU with Nice, in a way which suits themselves, before new member-states join. That is not the same as deciding whether they join or not. There is no timetable for the admission of a single enlargement country. The Greens favour the early admission of accession states where a majority of the citizens are in favour.
In reality, the reason we are having a referendum to amend our Constitution is because Nice introduces fundamental changes in how the EU operates. This was the basis for the Attorney General's decision to have a referendum in the first place. And these changes will take place whether or not a single country joins.
The most important provisions in this treaty relates to fundamental changes in how the EU operates. They allow for a group of at least eight member-states to integrate faster than the rest, through a process called "enhanced co-operation". This change means that Ireland can no longer prevent developments in predefined areas of EU policy-making which could be against its fundamental interests. Such developments can only lead to a so-called two-speed Europe, divided within itself.
Among the important changes to be made in Nice, we will in due course lose our automatic right to a Commissioner. The rather odd statement by Commissioner Byrne, where he says this will not take effect for 130 years, assumes that Ireland will be last to rotate, and that the Commission will grow to 26 and remain at that level.
While Nice concerns many aspects of the EU, including military ones, I believe these points are central. Nice marks a fundamental, but potentially contradictory, step in the development of the EU. It moves us towards a super-state, with its own military capabilities, but at the same time divides Europe into at least two tiers, the gold circle club and the economy class - not to mention the passengers waiting to get on the plane, who have no say in the matter. - Yours, etc.,
Patricia McKenna MEP, European Parliament Offices, Dublin 2.