Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

Loic Comhairle na nAirí ar phobal na hÉireann agus ar phobal na hEorpa. Leanann an Taoiseach, mar aon le hUachtaráin agus Príomh-Airí na dtíortha eile, ag déanamh de réir na mboc móra seachas gnáthphobal na tíre anseo agus dtíortha eile na hEorpa. Bhí sé i gceist ag straitéis Lisbon decisive impact on the eradication of poverty a dhéanamh faoin bhliain 2010. Tá fós méadú ar líon siúd atá i gcónaí i mbochtanas. Tá 62 milliún daoine san Aontas faoi bhagairt ag an bhochtanas agus tá lucht an rachmais tar éis tairbhe a bhaint as straitéis Lisbon agus tá an gnáthdhuine thíos leis.

Those lucky enough to have work are being pushed into low paid jobs with deteriorating working conditions and decreasing job security. Income inequalities continue to grow and now a secret declaration is being negotiated by the EU leaders for a solemn proclamation in Berlin on 25 March to mark the 50th anniversary of the EU. The current draft includes the phrase "we, the peoples of Europe", which is ironic because it was drawn up by the German Chancellor's small and secretive clique. The European Parliament debated the declaration last week without even seeing a draft. Member states have sight of only four passages, a fifth of the entire text, and we do not expect to see the full draft, which is to include a deadline for the de facto introduction of the constitution, until later this evening. This does not bode well for those who wish to see full democratic scrutiny and transparency in future treaty negotiations.

Níl aon duine ann a deir nach bhfuil buntáistí bainte againn as an Aontas Eorpach ach tá eagla ar chinnirí na hEorpa páirt a ghlacadh i ndíospóireacht ionraic agus oscailte faoi láidreacht agus laigí an Aontais, go háirithe an bóthar atá romhainn.

The defeat of the EU constitution in referenda in France and the Netherlands has left the EU leaders running for cover. They are still convinced they are right about the constitution but are unable to find democratic justification for it. Instead they are throwing up a smokescreen of nice sounding words which they hope will obscure the fact that they intend to introduce the constitution without democratic debate and scrutiny, without dialogue and, above all, without for one instant asking if the course they are set on is good for the people of Europe.

The Berlin declaration is an example of the removal of the future direction of the EU from public debate. This is because EU leaders have been unable to win the public argument. If they succeed in putting through the constitution, it will further stifle public debate on EU policy on social and economic affairs, civil liberties and peace and neutrality. It will make for free and unfettered competition and all that implies in terms of privatisation of public services and will undermine workers' rights on pay and conditions, a constitutional requirement rather than a policy choice under the democratic control of elected representatives.

Is é an t-aon rud atá soiléir faoi seo ná gur deis eile amú é. Is gá do pholasaithe an Aontais Eorpaigh a bheith dírithe ar fhás, geilleagar inbhuanaithe, athrú aeráide, agus poist de chaighdeán maith. Ba cheart dóibh tabhairt faoi mhíchothromas ioncaim chomh maith. Is athrú bunúsach san fhócas atá de dhíth. Tá sraith tosaíochtaí nua uainn, tosaíochtaí sóisialta, eacnamúil agus timpeallachta, a mheallfaidh infheistíocht sa gheilleagar sóisialta agus a fheabhsóidh seirbhísí poiblí ó thaobh an chaighdeáin de. Chuirfidh na tosaíochtaí sin deireadh le bochtanas agus idirdhealú sóisialta.

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