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I have 8 good reasons to vote yes to Lisbon, have you got eight good reasons to vote no? (For Irish people)?

This question is for Irish people, but feel free to give your opinions if you are a different nationality. (Please state what your nationality is... im sure few British BNPs and UKIPs will want there say!) Eight Good Reasons to Vote Yes to the Lisbon Reform Treaty 1. Lisbon Promotes our Values: Article 2 states: "The EU is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values are common to the Member States in a Society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail." Article 3 (5) states: "In its relations with the wider world the Union shall uphold and promote its values and interests and contribute to the protection of its citizens. It shall contribute to peace, security, the sustainable development of the earth, solidarity and mutual respect among peoples, free and fair trade, eradication of poverty and the protection of human rights, in particular, the rights of the child as well as the strict observance and the development of international law, including respect for the principles of the United Nations Charter". 2. Lisbon Strengthens Social Rights The Charter of Fundamental Rights contains the body of civil, political, social and economic rights agreed by the EU in 2000. The emphasis on economic and social rights, including workers' rights, is unique. At present the Charter has the status only of a declaration but when the Lisbon Reform Treaty is ratified it will be binding in Law. 3. Lisbon Respects Ireland's Neutrality The Lisbon Reform Treaty does not alter Ireland's neutrality in any way. Under the Common Foreign and Security Policy all EU civil and military missions must be first agreed by all Member States and must be in accordance with the United Nations Charter. Ireland's proud record of participation in missions abroad under the UN mandate to places of conflict such as Kosovo, the Lebanon and, most recently, Chad will continue as before 4. Lisbon Deepens the rights of Citizens Under Article 8 "every national of a Member State shall be a citizen of the Union. Citizenship of the Union shall be additional to national citizenship and shall not replace it". Article 8(b)4 states: "Not less than one million citizens who are nationals of a significant number of Member States may table the initiative of inviting the Commission, within the framework of its powers, to submit any appropriate proposal on matters where citizens consider that a legal act of the Union is required for the purpose of implementing the Treaties". Thus the Lisbon Treaty provides any citizen or group of citizens with an independent mechanism for placing an issue on the EU Agenda. 5. Lisbon Enhances the Role of the Dáil For the first time National Parliaments of the Member States will have a direct role in framing EU legislation. At present the EU Commission proposes legislation and the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament frame it. Under the Lisbon Reform Treaty the Dáil and Seanad will play a key role in determining new EU laws. 6. Lisbon Protects Public Services Article 136a makes legal provision for social dialogue and for recognition of the Social Partners. What this means in practice is that all EU laws will be "socially proofed" to ensure that they do not impact adversely on people's rights, on employment or on the wider community. For the first time there is a clear legal basis for EU laws to protect public services. 7. Lisbon Fights Global Poverty Article 188 (d) states that "Union development co-operation policy shall have as its primary objective the reduction and, in the long-term, the eradication of poverty". In Article 188J a strong commitment is given to Humanitarian Aid "for the purpose of third countries which are victims of natural and man-made disasters". 8. Lisbon Tackles Climate Change The Lisbon Reform Treaty gives a legal basis for combating climate change for the first time. Thus the EU is taking on a leadership role in tackling the most serious environmental problem facing the world, namely, climate change. Article 174 of the Treaty is amended to commit the EU to "Promoting measures at international level to deal with regional or worldwide environmental problems and, in particular, combating climate change". (Labour for Europe - http://www.labour.ie/lisbonreformtreaty/whyyes/eightgoodreason.html) Also, about them Cóir(Youth Defence Leadue) posters...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8Dl_3aIEJ0

Public Comments

1. Those are not 8 good reasons. Those are 8 reasons that you support or believe. Do you also believe in the Irish having to keep on voting until they get the answer that you want? That ONE example of the EU's idea of democracy should be enough to convince most sane people that all is not right with Europe. Maybe the vast levels of corruption might also put people off voting Yes? Or the sheer cost to each and every member of handing over control of their country to someone in brussels who they have not voted for? There are many more, but those 3 beat the hell out of your 8 anyway.
2. I will only give you one good reason why to vote no. The EU has not had it's accounts signed off for years, it's riddled with corruption and many posts are unelected. I also dispute your good points as many as we all have seen have been a negative for member states.
3. after all the bribes and propaganda. it is doubtful they will vote no. still we live in hope.
4. I am not Irish so I guess I may be poking my nose in a little, however you seem to be well briefed on the situation given your long question and I cant knock the information you give in your question. However I hope a yes vote comes although I agree that a lot needs to be done to make the vast machinery of the EU more transparent because I think there is a lot more like the expenses scandal happening.
5. Well no1 is torn out completely by the blind acceptance of the violent and oppressive Islamic faith and so is a complete nonsense. and frankly 2,3,4and 5 pose the question....then why were you made to vote again?.....Face it. you are signing away Ireland to a Nazi dictatorship. I hope you are in the minority.
6. Are you really that stupid ? The EU is run by an unelected commission . The EU is run for the benefit of big business . The EU is setting it's self up to be a dictatorship . The EU is one step closer to a global dictatorship . The EU is a NWO stepping stone . If the Irish vote yes then it will make a mockery of fighting the British for their fro so long , just to surrender it to a foreign power without a shot being fired . The EUSSR is at this time the greatest threat to freedom in Europe .
7. The darling of Ireland's "yes" to everything European is former Attorney General of Ireland, one Peter Sutherland. Sutherland is a member of the gloablist New World Order think tank the Bilderberg Group. Sutherland is in fact on the steering committee of the Bilderberg Group. Sutherland is also a member of the New World Order think tank the Council of Foreign Relations or CFR Sutherland is a member of the New World Order think tank the Trilateral Commission. Sutherland is Chairman of Goldman Sachs investment bank- a Rothschild banking family’s investment arm and BP also closely linked to the Rothschilds. FYI according to a recent article in Rolling Stone magazine GS has been the prime cause of every economic downturn since the 1920s. In January 2006, he was appointed by – UN Special Representative for Migration by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan - a son-in law of the Rothschilds banking dynasty. The Rothschild banking dynasty are behind the drive for a One World Government and Sutherland’s resume/CV shows clearly that he up to his eyeballs with them.
8. The Irish are not stupid they won't be forced to vote yes!
9. STILL VOTE NO >>>>> YOU LOSE INDEPENDENCE YOU FOUGHT SO HARD FOR
10. yes i can actually 1.abortion will be legalized in a catholic country 2.lost of independence 3.lisbon would turn ireland into a single state 4.we would have to pay for military equipent 5.lisbon opens the way for futher expansion this could see turkey with its massive population of small farmers and low paid workers 6.We could see jobs race to the bottom with skilled workers from other countries brought here to work for the minimum wage replacing irish workers. 7.As members of an EU federal state countries would also have to go to the aid of any other member state under attack. 8.Lisbon would abolish our veto in over 30 new policy areas. 9.The treaty would place the court above our Supreme court and give it the power to decide our rights as ''EU citizens which we for the first time ,would become. i actually named 9 and i have more. we voted no why should we vote again .People died for this country why should it be taken away