Lisbon: Summaries & Guides

[He3]

Bumping this as the thread contents have been expanded.

http://www.politics.ie/lisbon-treaty...ml#post2028995

[Sucker Punch]

This was a great overview during the first referendum containing many of the issues taken up by the progressive left. Short and sweet:

Z Magazine - Lisbon Treaty

I also found this http://www.j.dk/images/bondes/From_E...april_2008.pdf which is a fantastic and immensely readable account of the passage from Constitution Treaty to Lisbon.

From EU Constitution to Lisbon Treaty. The revised EU Constitution analysed by a Danish member of the two constitutional Conventions, Jens-Peter Bonde.

[He3]

In case anyone is interested in examining what changes it will bring about to the text of our Constitution here is the amended text of Article 29.4 as it would be if the Lisbon ll referendum were passed.

An entirely new element that was not in last year's amendment proposal is subarticle 4 about our 'commitment to the European Union'.



1° The executive power of the State in or in connection with its external relations shall in accordance with Article 28 of this Constitution be exercised by or on the authority of the Government. [unchanged]

2° For the purpose of the exercise of any executive function of the State in or in connection with its external relations, the Government may to such extent and subject to such conditions, if any, as may be determined by law, avail of or adopt any organ, instrument, or method of procedure used or adopted for the like purpose by the members of any group or league of nations with which the State is or becomes associated for the purpose of international co-operation in matters of common
concern. [unchanged]

3° The State may become a member of the European Atomic Energy Community (established by Treaty signed at Rome on the 25th day of March, 1957). [trimmed by eliminating references to EEC, ECSC and SEA]

4° Ireland affirms its commitment to the European Union within which the member states of that Union work together to promote peace, shared values and the well-being of their peoples. [new]

5° The State may ratify the Treaty of Lisbon amending the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community, signed at Lisbon on the 13th day of December 2007 (“Treaty of Lisbon”), and may be a member of the European Union
established by virtue of that Treaty. [new]

6° No provision of this Constitution invalidates laws enacted, acts done or measures adopted by the State, before, on or after the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, that are necessitated by the obligations of membership of the European Union referred to in subsection 5° of this section or of the European Atomic Energy Community, or prevents laws enacted, acts done or measures adopted by—

i the said European Union or the European Atomic Energy Community, or by institutions thereof,

ii the European Communities or European Union existing immediately before the entry into force of the Treaty of Lisbon, or by institutions thereof, or

iii bodies competent under the treaties referred to in this section,

from having the force of law in the State. [modification of present text]


7° The State may exercise the options or discretions—

i to which Article 20 of the Treaty on European Union relating to enhanced cooperation applies,

ii under Protocol No. 19 on the Schengen acquis integrated into the framework of the European Union annexed to that 25 treaty and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (formerly known as the Treaty establishing the European Community), and

iii under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice, so annexed, including the option that the said Protocol No. 21 shall, in whole or in part, cease to apply to the State, but any such exercise shall be subject to the prior approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas. [new]


8° The State may agree to the decisions, regulations or other acts—

i under the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union authorising the Council of the European Union to act other than by unanimity,

ii under those treaties authorising the adoption of the ordinary legislative procedure, and

iii under subparagraph (d) of Article 82.2, the third subparagraph of Article 83.1 and paragraphs 1 and 4 of Article 86 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, relating to the area of freedom, security and justice, but the agreement to any such decision, regulation or act shall be subject to the prior approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas. [new]

[danflynn]

A short video has just been released that encourages people to consider the social aspects of the treaty when deciding if a yes/no vote is right for them.

You can watch it here
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM_BNdlJihw"]YouTube - The Lisbon Treaty's Social Side[/ame]

[Sucker Punch]

Related Links from State Watch and TEPSA:

Statewatch News online: Statewatch Observatory on EU Constitution

http://tepsa.be/Enlarging%20the%20European%20Union.pdf

http://www.fedtrust.co.uk/uploads/Co...October_07.pdf

[IZBurke]

Here are the reasons why I will be voting NO to the Lisbon Treaty
on October the 2nd.

I encourage you to read them and also vote NO. This is not a superficial, unimportant issue. Rather, it is one of paramount importance for the Irish nation and for the Irish people. Every citizen of Ireland therefore has a duty to be well informed on Lisbon.

1. The Lisbon Treaty dissolves our independence as an Irish Nation and replaces it by total subordination to an undemocratic, totalitarian EU federation. Currently 75% of laws passed in Ireland originate in Europe. Under Lisbon, this 75% increases to 99%. Every one of these laws, with no exception, is proposed by the European Commission, which consists of 27 Commissioners. These Commissioners are chosen (not elected) by the EU from “persons whose independence [from their country] is beyond doubt” (Article 17.3 TEU). We, the people of Europe, have absolutely no say in who they will be. So simply, Lisbon puts us into a situation where 99% of our laws are made by unelected people who are devoted to the EU. This is the height of totalitarianism. Furthermore, the Treaty states, "the Treaties and the law adopted by the [European] Union on the basis of the Treaties have primacy over the law of Member States" (Declaration 17, TFEU). Notice here the word primacy; in any case of conflict between the Irish Constitution and the EU, EU law will have the final say. Notice the phrase Member States; we will merely be a small, insignificant state in a huge undemocratic EU federation, led by major players like Germany and France.

2. The notorious European Court of Justice will, for the first time, decide our rights as citizens of the EU. The Lisbon Treaty will make the Charter of Fundamental Rights legally binding on 500 million Europeans. Our rights as Irish citizens outlined in Article 40 of our Constitution will become meaningless and totally insignificant. Sensitive and serious issues like abortion, euthanasia, property rights, trial by jury, the presumption of innocence and other personal freedoms will be taken from our control and placed on the discussion table at the European Court of Justice, which is a farce of a legal system where appointed judges need have no previous judicial experience whatsoever, and which is merely a tool for implementing the sinister, immoral and ungodly aims and motives of the EU.

3. The Lisbon Treaty is a self amending treaty which means that it can be changed and altered without the consent of the people of Europe. This is extremely serious. It gives free reign to the EU to do practically whatever they want. There would be no more referendums on Europe. Article 48.1 of the Treaty says “The Treaties may be amended in accordance with an ordinary revision procedure”. This sentence can only bring to mind the “Enabling Act” of 1933 which was passed in the German Reichstag or Parliament. It enabled Chancellor Adolf Hitler to pass laws without the participation of the Parliament. This led to dictatorship, World War II and the slaughter of millions of innocent people. We need to learn from history. Self amendment means dictatorship.


Do not be deceived by sugary promises which hide toxic and lethal consequences for Ireland. Lisbon merely feathers the politician's nests and leaves the Irish people with a grim and terrible future.

Vote NO to Lisbon.

[Kolumb]

Please also read the appeal of polish bloggers, who urge Irish people to vote NO.

SAVE EUROPE - IRELAND!

[He3]

Comments added to a RefCom leaflet to bring it back to the straight and narrow - pdf version is here:

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/1527486/C...Commission.pdf

[Earnest]

Comments added to a RefCom leaflet to bring it back to the straight and narrow - pdf version is here:

http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/1527486/C...Commission.pdf

Having counted 18 errors in Jens Peter Bonde's comments, I am glad it was the Referendum Commission that was writing it and not him.

[He3]

This is a work in progress and a P.ie exclusive. The links contain the text of certain Treaty Articles as they would be if the Lisbon treaty is ratified and some brief commentary. Lisbon collapses a series of existing EC treaties and the EU treaty into a singular Treaty on European Union (TEU) and an associated Treaty on the Functioning of the Union (TFEU).

http://www.politics.ie/lisbon-treaty...e-art-1-a.html

http://www.politics.ie/lisbon-treaty...ticle-2-a.html

http://www.politics.ie/lisbon-treaty...le-2-tfeu.html

http://www.politics.ie/lisbon-treaty...ml#post2047446

http://www.politics.ie/lisbon-treaty...mpetences.html

http://www.politics.ie/lisbon-treaty...mpetences.html

http://www.politics.ie/lisbon-treaty...mpetences.html

http://www.politics.ie/lisbon-treaty...ithdrawal.html

http://www.politics.ie/lisbon-treaty...sidiarity.html

"Whilst the original Constitutional Treaty was technical, and correct, people didn’t read the Lisbon Treaty, they didn’t understand the first word about it. No real debate about the Lisbon Treaty could happen. This was a deliberate decision of the European Council".

EC Commissioner Karel du Gucht 1 September 2009

We begin to understand why there is so little discussion of the treaty.

That line was followed this time round by the government - so the talked about anything except what the treaty will do. Taking their lead from the European Council is something that a Yes vote will reward and copperfasten.

No way to run a country.