Sir, - As the effects of the fallout following the rejection of the Nice Treaty continue to be felt around the country it is nothing short of shameful that the No campaign should be joined by the other political parties in the chorus of condemnation of the Government for its handling of the referendum.
Yes, it is true to say perhaps that a more informed debate could have taken place with real issues forming the basis for rational debate. However, the response of the other political parties, in particular Fine Gael and Labour, smacks of political opportunism at its worst and on an issue of real and fundamental importance. How do these parties propose to seriously resolve this issue of our rejection when their only response to date has been cheap political shots followed by a run for cover?
During the course of recent days many reasons have been put forward by members of the public as well as prominent public figures stating their reasons for voting No. While many concerns are indeed understandable others are simply disingenuous. Some have commented that arrogance on the part of the Government led them to vote No, while others accepted the misinformation of the No campaign in respect of issues like neutrality. Many seem to forget that the original Treaty of Rome was signed in 1957 in a world radically different from the one in which we live today. The Treaty of Nice was the culmination of a process whereby the European Union agreed that in light of the new Europe, which had emerged following the break-up of the former Soviet Union, new institutional arrangements were necessary to restructure the Union in anticipation of enlargement involving previous Eastern Bloc countries.
Another reason which was given as a basis for voting No was the effect on neutrality and the belief that the Taoiseach had promised a referendum on PfP and subsequently failed to deliver. This again is a misrepresentation of the fact. The fact being that the Taoiseach promised a referendum on the PfP in the event that it did indeed impinge on our historical and stated position of neutrality. The advice to the Government was that joining PfP did not affect our ability to determine whether we could decide for ourselves to remain neutral in the event of a conflict. For anyone in any doubt about the clarity of the constitutional position I would refer him or her to section 3 of Article 28 of the Constitution.
In respect of the issue put out by the No campaign regarding the creation of a European super state, we will continue to have a Council of Ministers drawn from the member-states who will decide on direction. Europe has evolved to its present state through agreement and equality among states, this treaty will not change that principle. - Yours, etc.,
Pat Hynes, Fianna Fail member Dublin South Constituency, Moreen Road, Sandyford, Dublin 16.