Referendum Commission Site Launched

[ibis]

This is the Referendum Commission's website for the Lisbon Treaty:

http://www.lisbontreaty2008.ie/

In this website the Referendum Commission attempts to explain as simply as possible:

• what you are being asked to decide in the referendum on the Treaty of Lisbon;
• what the Lisbon Treaty is about.

Others will argue for a 'Yes' or a 'No' vote. The Referendum Commission's role is to do neither, but simply to explain what the Lisbon Treaty referendum is about and encourage you to vote.

[Helium Three]

Thanks for the link. They have been ill advised.

They mis-state what the treaty says in its clause about 'mutual assistance' (or as Jose Manuel Barroso and the EU Presidency calls this clause - 'mutual defence')


E. Mutual Assistance
The Treaty provides that Member States have an obligation to aid and assist another Member State which is the victim of armed aggression. This assistance is to be in accordance with the UN Charter. The type of aid and assistance that is required is not specified. Mutual assistance is expressly stated not to compromise the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain Member States which includes Ireland’s policy on neutrality.

The treaty does not 'expressly' mention Ireland's policy on neutrality at all. The relevant Article is 28A.7, and it is posted elsewhere on p.ie.

[ibis]

Thanks for the link.

They appear to have read a word or two in whatever version of the treaty that do not appear not in the version on the EU website nor the IIEA website - 'neutrality' being one. As in this extract:



E. Mutual Assistance
The Treaty provides that Member States have an obligation to aid and assist another Member State which is the victim of armed aggression. This assistance is to be in accordance with the UN Charter. The type of aid and assistance that is required is not specified. Mutual assistance is expressly stated not to compromise the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain Member States which includes Ireland’s policy on neutrality.

The version in circulation among ordinary mortals is quoted verbatim elsewhere on p.ie.

The generally agreed meaning of the clauses are as stated by the Commission, who, unlike you or I, are obliged to be neutral.

[seabhcan]

Just read through it. Its fair and honest.

I'm sure the no side will hate it.

[Podolski]

Fair or honest it is not. The statement on neutrality is a lie, nothing less. This is not a gripe because I don't like what it says, the Referendum Commission site is factually incorrect.

[ibis]

Fair or honest it is not. The statement on neutrality is a lie, nothing less. This is not a gripe because I don't like what it says, the Referendum Commission site is factually incorrect.

Sigh. How so? What statement do they make that is incorrect, exactly - bearing in mind that the claim that Irish neutrality is being scuppered comes up at every EU referendum?

[Rebelman]

Fair or honest it is not. The statement on neutrality is a lie, nothing less. This is not a gripe because I don't like what it says, the Referendum Commission site is factually incorrect.

you should contact them if you truly believe this to be to the case (although you are wrong, they can confirm or deny your view)

[toxic avenger]

If it states that the Treaty bears more than a passing resemblance to the Constitution, rejected by two countries' peoples already, then I'll be happy...

[seabhcan]

If it states that the Treaty bears more than a passing resemblance to the Constitution, rejected by two countries' peoples already, then I'll be happy...

Would you permit them to acknowledge that the constitution was passed by a dozen or so countries, two of them by referendum?

[kaleidoscope]

Where was it passed by referendum?