Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Following the people's rejection in the referendum of the Lisbon treaty, the Government's own research indicated that a considerable factor in the people's decision to say "No" pertained to concerns regarding workers' rights and public services. Why are so-called legally binding guarantees in the areas of neutrality and taxation being considered but only a declaration in respect of the areas of workers' rights and public services? How did it come about that there are two tiers in the approach to the critical issues that informed the people's choice in the referendum on the Lisbon treaty? How exactly will this twin-track approach work? Regarding the so-called legally binding guarantees, must they be approved by the parliament of each member state before gaining the status of legally binding guarantees?

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