Although I’m a great believer in the European Union I will be voting NO to the Lisbon Treaty.

The Lisbon Treaty, I believe, is not good for Ireland. It will interfere with our autonomy and wear away at our identity.

The Treaty as it stands is so unclear that I’d want a degree in legal studies before I could even try interpreting it. No document that can stand on it’s own merits would need to hide behind a wall of legal rhetoric.

I acknowledge that Europe has been good to us over the years but it isn’t a reason why we should sell our souls to Brussels.

In its current format the Lisbon Treaty is like signing a blank cheque and saying ‘off you go …. have fun’. I’d be mad to sign a blank cheque. There isn’t a hope in hell I’ll sign a blank ‘yes’ to Brussels.

We could lose control of self-taxation. As bad and all as it is on the pocket at least it’s controlled in Dublin.

Our influence in Europe will diminish.

Majority decision will come into effect. So if there’s something we don’t like ….. tough …. the chances are it will happen anyway …. with or without us. Areas such as energy, asylum, immigration, judicial co-operation in civil matters and sport will come under majority decision.

We’d probably have to call ourselves Eurish.

Europe & Mr. Barroso ….. My answer is NO, NO, NO!

For more information: Referendum Commission Website – ‘Your voice, Your vote, Your choice’

Regardless of whether you’re a ‘YES’ or a ‘NO’ person ….. use your vote …. a lot went on in history to give us that right.

It’s a pity that more people don’t use their vote on voting day …. be it for local, national or European elections.

USE YOUR VOTE!!