Treaty weakens Ireland - McDonald

The Lisbon Treaty will threaten Ireland's neutrality, weaken the country's voice in the EU and undercut public services, Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald warned tonight.

The Dublin MEP urged the electorate to vote no in the upcoming referendum on the treaty, and said 'Yes' campaigners claims that a rejection would have negative economic consequences as scaremongering.

Addressing delegates at the party's ard fheis in Dublin she said the public was in a prime position to reject the document and vote for a more democratic, inclusive Europe.

"We in Sinn Féin oppose the Lisbon Treaty, not because we are Eurosceptics but because we are ambitious for Europe, because we believe that collectively and democratically Europeans can achieve great things," Ms McDonald said.

"We cannot support a Treaty that gives unaccountable and unelected officials greater powers, undercuts public services, commits Ireland to a common defence and reduces Ireland's voice on the EU stage."

Following repeated calls from opposition parties, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said on Tuesday a referendum date would be announced within the next week. A date of May 29 ^th was expected but Mr Ahern said on visit to Slovenia it more likely be early June.

Ms McDonald said the Treaty marked another step in the centralisation of political power in the EU.

"Not alone that but the European Council can decide to move yet more areas of decision from consensus to majority vote without reference to the people," she told delegates.

"It would be irresponsible for Ireland, or any small member state, to place themselves in a weakened position within the EU institutions," she said.

She warned the Republic's neutrality would be threatened as it would be tied to common European defence and security policy.

© 2008 ireland.com