Gweedore Debates the EU Constitution

Fianna Fail MEP Seán Ó Neachtain told a public meeting in the Gweedore Gaeltacht (Monday 25th April) that the there was a danger that if the EU Constitution is not ratified many of the concessions Ireland achieved in negotiating the document, like maintaining the veto on tax and defence policies, might be up for renegotiation. "Lots of countries, especially France and Germany wanted the EU to be given power over taxation. Under the Constitution these areas remain our own business", said the Connacht-Ulster MEP. 

The meeting in the Óstan Ghaoth Dobhair was also addressed by former Fine Gael leader Alan Dukes who is in favour of the Constitution and by Sinn Féin TD Aengus Ó Snodaigh who is against it. The event, conducted entirely as gaeilge, was hosted by the National Forum on Europe which is travelling the country at the moment, bringing the debate on the EU Constitution to people in their own areas. The Forum will be travelling next to the Abbey Hotel in Roscommon on May 16th, to the Bracken Court Hotel in Balbriggan on May 30th and to the Cavan Crystal Hotel in Cavan Town on 20th June.

The Forum Chairman, Senator Maurice Hayes, opened the Gweedore meeting by explaining that the Forum is an-all party body which is neutral on the question of the Constitution.  "We just provide the space for people to debate it", he said. "Each EU member state must make up it's own mind as to whether to approve or not, the Constitution, which can only come into effect if approved by all EU members. The deadline is the autumn of 2006".

Senator Hayes said that ten countries, including Ireland, are committed to putting the Constitution to their people in referenda. "The people of France will vote on May 29th. Netherlands will hold a referendum on 1 June, Luxembourg on 10 July and Denmark on 27th September. The Taoiseach has yet to announce the date for the Irish referendum", he said.

Fine Gael Councillor, Padraig Doherty  asked the speakers to spell out what were the advantages and disadvantages for Ireland contained in the Constitution.  His former party leader, Alan Dukes, who is urging a "Yes" vote in the referendum, said that there were no new real policy changes in the Constitution. "What is there is a way for administering an EU of 25 Member States which is soon to go up to 27."

"We're like a bus that has 25 passengers and only 15 seats.  We need to create a bus which will accommodate 25 passengers and more", he added.  Mr Dukes also said the under the Constitution, the EU would be more democratic than the existing set-up. "It will give wider power to the European parliament to make decisions on policies.  MEPs, whether they're from government or opposition parties at home, will have the power to amend decisions taken in Brussels by EU leaders", he said.

Sinn Féin Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh, whose party is campaigning against ratification, said that he believed the Constitution represented more movement towards centralising power in Brussels.  "The Union is more and more involving itself in economic issues and justice issues.  We are increasingly becoming linked with defence policy," he said.  He did not see any advantages to the Constitution other than the fact that it simplifies the existing Treaties and gives legal force to the Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Seán Ó Neachtain said that the Constitution was designed to last for 25 years or more. "It would mean that we wouldn't have to keep re-visiting the existing Treaties and amending them to cope with an enlarging Europe,"he said.

Fianna Fail Councillor Enda Bonner feared that there might be some interference from Brussels with corporate tax levels.  Deputy Ó Snodaigh confirmed that under the Constitution tax was still an issue that an individual country could decide itself.   He was more worried about the free movement of people, services and factories around Europe and the threat to competitiveness that could bring.

Alan Dukes, a former Minister for Finance, said that being able to set our own corporate rates for inward investment would bring challenges. "Estonia has set a zero per cent tax rate and the Czech republic and a couple of other countries have set low rates," he said. "There'll be competition for us.  But I think it's a good thing."

Máire bean Mhic Niallais, a local community activist, was concerned that there might be, in the future, a conflict between the EU Constitution and Bunreacht na hEireann.  Seán Ó Neachtain  said that the EU Constitution would in no way impact on the Irish Constitution. Bunreacht na hEireann would remain the basic legal document of the State.  "The European Constitution would only apply to areas in which the Union had been given the power to act by its Member States" he said.  " If a power has been given to the Union by a Member State it is very clear in the Constitution where the line is being drawn."

Aengus Ó Snodaigh said that over the years Ireland has given away many powers and that was why he was against previous Treaties. "The powers we have kept are under pressure", he said.
Alan Dukes disagreed, saying  the only big change in our sovereignty was when we joined the EU and when we joined the Euro.  "The Single European Act or Amsterdam or Nice did not do anything to affect our sovereignty", he said. "The most important thing now is for EU Member States to find common ground to resist external pressures."

Local priest Father Brian Ferry asked why there was no reference in the Constitution to Christianity considering the importance of the faith in the history of Europe.  Seán Ó Neachtain pointed out that there was a reference to the "religious heritage" in the preamble of the Constitution which he said had been welcomed by the late Pope John Paul 11. He said Ireland was one of the countries which tried to get a reference to God included. "We pushed very strongly.  The consensus just wasn't there."   On that question, Deputy Ó Snodaigh pointed to the reference to the freedom of thought, conscience and religion contained in the Constitution's Charter of Fundamental Rights.  "I think that's what we need to focus on, to prevent anyone being attacked on religious grounds"

Other participants raised EU issues outside of the debate on the Constitution.  For example, concerns were raised about the future of the local fishing industry which is under pressure from the big producers.  All the platform speakers pointed out that the EU Constitution would have no impact on the fishing industry. Other people stressed the need for the government to press forward with the campaign to have Irish recognised as an official working language in the EU.