UK press ahead with ratification of Lisbon Treaty
With the defeat of a Conservative amendment, by 277 votes to 184, which sought to delay the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty for four months the UK government now look set to complete the passing of the EU (Amendment) Bill tonight, with royal assent to follow tomorrow. Four protesters were removed from the Lords’ chamber earlier. Meanwhile Taoiseach Brian Cowen is hoping other states would “accord us the time we need to play our part in understanding last week’s vote”. And the Guardian’s European editor, Ian Traynor, reports that at Monday’s meeting of Foreign Ministers
In Luxembourg on Monday, in another unlovely barn of a building that hosts regular sessions of EU governments, the foreign ministers of the 27 agreed, for public consumption, to lower the temperature, voice sympathy and support for the Irish in their predicament, and pledge not to put too much pressure on Dublin. But accounts of the meeting from people taking part reveal a more cacophonous din.
Mick’s already put together some thoughts on the possible scenario ahead. Adds RTÉ report – “Legislation to ratify the Lisbon Teaty has passed all its stages in the Westminster parliament” – and France to re-join NATO.
It seems the Czechs are Ireland’s best hope of procuring solidarity.
And I thought the Brits were kinda anti Euro centalization. Even got through the House of Lords.
For TUV fans, see that Jim was in the European parliament today with the other British anti EU MEPs donning the Green and cheering on Ireland for the NO vote.
“accord us the time we need to play our part in understanding last week’s vote”.
As the ladies used to say to me; “what part of NO do you not understand?”
Greagóir, Just heard on RTE news of brilliant comment by Avril Doyle in EP yesterday . She described the jersey wearers as the extreme right with the odd British jailbird thrown in and went on to say that , if the Brits had always respected the way the Irish voted, history could have been different. Class.
Great photo in the Irish Times today showing Kathy Sinnot surrounded by UKIP MEPs. Says a lot.
And I thought the Brits were kinda anti Euro centalization.
Posted by Greagoir O Frainclin
We are…that’s why the government doesn’t want a public vote on the issue. It might make them look bad to their chums in Brussels.
There is also a very good column by Fionnan Sheahan in today’s Irish Independent.
I loved Neil Kinnock’s Lords argument in faovur of approving the treaty: it would be the best way to show solidarity with Ireland. You have to wonder why ever became disenchanted with the Brits and empires in general.
The Czechs are keenly aware of, and not that far away from, the horrors of communism, and won’t be fooled by these trojan horsed, eurocrooks. Still a few lucid adults with an historical perspective left
around to resist…..but for how long?
If Ireland was still in the UK we wouldn’t have had a referendum on this. The UK is ill-served by not having a written constitution to require referenda on issues like this. I am glad to be in a country with such protections. The answer will again be no from me unless the new voting system is scrapped, the Commissioner and the automatic right to EU referenda retained (scrap Article 48), and an opt-out from the Charter granted.