No censure for MEP's Lisbon protest

INDEPENDENT MEP Kathy Sinnott has not been penalised by the European Parliament for taking part in a protest against the Lisbon Treaty during a parliamentary session, but several of her fellow protesters have had their allowances docked as punishment.

Dozens of MEPs disrupted a ceremony marking the signing of the EU charter of fundamental rights in Strasbourg last December, using the occasion to call for more referendums on the treaty. Ireland is the only country committed to hold a referendum on the treaty. Other member states will ratify it through their parliaments. The charter of fundamental rights will be attached to the Lisbon Treaty.

As EU leaders, including European Commission president José Manuel Barroso and Portuguese prime minister José Socrates, signed the charter, some MEPs displayed banners, placards and T-shirts demanding a referendum. Several of the protesting parliamentarians chanted and heckled during the ceremony.

European Parliament president Hans-Gert Pöttering described the scenes at the time as an "unfortunate sideshow".

Mr Pöttering wrote to more than a dozen of those involved, including Ms Sinnott and independent unionist MEP Jim Allister, warning of disciplinary action.

Ms Sinnott replied, explaining that she did not join the heckling.

Mr Allister will lose three days' allowance as a result of his protest. The daily allowance is €287.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times