Treaty is balanced for the good, forum told

Although the Lisbon Treaty is not a perfect document, its ratification would serve to keep Ireland at the heart of European affairs, a National Forum on Europe debate heard last night.

Fianna Fáil TD Michael Mulcahy said there was "no such thing as a perfect treaty", but it was "balanced for the good" of Ireland's future.

He was speaking at a debate entitled "That Ireland should ratify the Lisbon Reform Treaty", which was hosted by the Trinity College Historical Society.

Libertas chair Declan Ganley said the treaty represented a bad deal on Ireland's behalf.

"Our vote on the Council is reduced by 55 per cent. We will lose our Commissioner for five out of every 15 years and we surrender vetoes in 60 policy areas."

Mr Mulcahy, however, said it was not true the treaty would cause Ireland's voting power in Europe to be lessened.

Joe Higgins of the Socialist Party said ratification of the treaty would have far reaching effects on Irish citizens over a period of decades.

Dr Garrett FitzGerald, spokesman for the Irish Alliance for Europe, said the passing of the treaty would advance democracy in Europe.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times