Ireland must stay at heart of EU.

[Geoffrey]

Ireland must stay at heart of EU - Letters, Opinion - Independent.ie

Friday August 21 2009

I take issue with a number of claims made by Bruce Arnold in relation to the Lisbon Treaty (Irish Independent, August 17).

The main point I would like to respond to, however, is his assertion that the benefits accrued from EU membership would in no way be "at risk or threatened" by a further rejection of the treaty. Such a remark is nothing short of cavalier.

This week, a number of business groups, including IBEC, Chambers Ireland, the Small Firms Association and the Irish Exports Associations, united in supporting Lisbon on the grounds that it would be key to Ireland's economic future.

As a former member of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee in the European Parliament, I have seen first hand how multinationals select destinations for investment. Ireland offers many attractions to potential investors but chief among them is our commitment to the single market and the gateway this provides to over 500,000 million consumers throughout the EU.

Ireland needs to remain at the heart of Europe in order to promote itself as an attractive destination for FDI. Contrary to Mr Arnold's claim, another 'No' vote would most certainly put this in jeopardy.

Eoin Ryan

Sandymount, Dublin 4

Hurrah.. A voice of reason in the wilderness. We need to be at the Heart of Europe.

Vote Yes.

[He3]

The heart is congested.

Oesophagus or colon?

[FutureTaoiseach]

The Commissionership can't be far off. Eurocitizan tells me the word on the street is that it's his. Now we know why.

[CookieMonster]

Christ! If I have to see that "heart of Europe" crap one more time.

I hear Eoin Ryan has notions of being an EU commissioner. It think it'll take more than a wee letter to the Indo to swing that Eoin.

[TradCat]

This week, a number of business groups, including IBEC, Chambers Ireland, the Small Firms Association and the Irish Exports Associations, united in supporting Lisbon on the grounds that it would be key to Ireland's economic future.

Not to mention Robbie Keane. The government are trying to get anybody they can think of to come out for a Yes vote. Why? Because their own credibility is in tatters and they hope we have more respect for the likes of IBEC. Well, we don't. We know they were very happy with the endless supply of cheap labour from Eastern Europe. But that was all part of the bubble economy presided over by the Social Partners.

Why would we give IBEC the time of day?

[cactusflower]

Christ! If I have to see that "heart of Europe" crap one more time.

I hear Eoin Ryan has notions of being an EU commissioner. It think it'll take more than a wee letter to the Indo to swing that Eoin.

Why, you don't think it might be the price of Green support?

[CookieMonster]

Not to mention Robbie Keane. The government are trying to get anybody they can think of to come out for a Yes vote. Why? Because their own credibility is in tatters and they hope we have more respect for the likes of IBEC. Well, we don't. We know they were very happy with the endless supply of cheap labour from Eastern Europe. But that was all part of the bubble economy presided over by the Social Partners.

Why would we give IBEC the time of day?

Not to mention that IBEC et al are up to their eyes in it with Fianna Fail. If Lisbon goes then Fianna Fail go and along with it these chap's benign influence over us goes too.

We're not stupid, Eoin.

[CookieMonster]

Also, there is been a lot of "high level" responses to Bruce Arnold's article. He's really got them rattled. Good man Bruce.

[CookieMonster]

As a former member of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee in the European Parliament, I have seen first hand how multinationals select destinations for investment. Ireland offers many attractions to potential investors but chief among them is our commitment to the single market and the gateway this provides to over 500,000 million consumers throughout the EU.

Eoin, (and we know he's reading this because he's got no job)

I may not be a former member of the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee in the European Parliament but I do have read the Lisbon treaty, I've studied it, I'm discussed it with MEPs, MPs and TD, I've discussed it with solicitors and consitiutional lawyers, I've discussed it with economists, journalists and business people, what's more I've discussed it with citizens in probably all 27 EU member states... and I know something which you clearly don't, and it's this: NOWHERE IN THE LISBON TREATY IS IRELAND'S RELATIONSHIP TO THE SINGLE EUROPEAN MARKET MENTIONED.

It as NOTHING to do with the Lisbon Treaty, Eoin. As a former MEP you should bloody well know that. Maybe that's why the good people of Dublin saw fit to remove you from that job. As I said above, we're not stupid, Eoin. You however... well we won't go there.

[Ah Well]

Eoin Ryan ... hmmmm .... who's that??? name rings a bell ..

The classic double Lisbon scaremongery foundations of the yes camp I see are included in this terribly terse and short piece of "prose";

1. Economic future
2. Need to remain at the heart of Europe

Awe inspiring words from a man who is a member of a Political Party directly responsible for our economic wellbeing over the past 12 years and by implication a Party responsible for our economic future - and LOOK where we are today ... ochón, mo léir

It's a bit Irish for any FFer to be bleating about Lisbon and our economic future and I find it very bad taste for any of them and in this case him to be lecturing us about Lisbon being necessary for our economic future, when their party has succeeded in destroying this country and its present and future generations for many years to come ...

When it comes to discussing or suggesting the future of this country economically and in this case vis-a-vis Lisbon, FF and its cohorts can fup off as far as I'm concerned

That's one reason why there is no real leadership being shown from FF in the Yes Camp re this Treaty Referendum ... because they are not leadership material to be able to do so in the 1st place ... and are despised by a considerable and ever increasing portion of the population of this country ...

Think about it ... it's far from an ideal scenario to have such "Leaders" promoting Irish ratification of a Treaty and it can inevitably only be detrimental to any potential ratification ... it's a millstone around the yes to lisbon neck and everyone knows that ... and it may very well be the kiss of death to the Lisbon Treaty