Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)

The forthcoming European Council meeting next week has again been mooted as another crunch moment for Ireland. Members have heard calls from the Tánaiste to don the green jersey and support what the Government is trying to do in Europe. In the Taoiseach's mind, this means supporting its stance and ensuring at all costs that there will be no need to hold a referendum in Ireland. This is so that we can again show to our European masters that we are the good boys and girls in the class. It is to show we are willing once again to prostrate ourselves to bail out Europe and force the Irish people into a permanent austerity programme. Proposals for a permanently balanced budget probably will ensure Ireland will never emerge from its current bailout programme.

Already Ireland is being warned of the dire consequences if we dare to exercise our democratic right to ask the people to endorse whatever deal is made. While speaking in Trinity College last night, the former German Foreign Minister warned of extreme consequences were we to reject the compact. When does the exercising of a democratic process invite extreme consequences? It seems only when a nation wishes to follow its constitutional processes and it does not fit with the agenda of "Merkozy" and the European masters. When will the Taoiseach stand up for the people and tell them where to get off? It is time for him to don the green jersey and tell them his first responsibility is to the people and that he will do what is good for them, that democracy is the basis for Ireland's Constitution and that he will protect the people through his actions.

There is a huge and dangerous democratic deficit in Europe. "Merkozy" has deposed the governments of two sovereign states and imposed technocratic governments in Greece and Italy. Moreover, the proposed fiscal compact will further weaken democracy. The real purpose of the European Union is emerging through the proposals appearing, namely, the domination of Europe by a small core of countries that will force everyone else to follow their will. In the 1950s Jean Monnet, one of the founders of the European Economic Community, stated the first steps on the road to a federal Europe had been taken. That road has now led us to our current position and the sad part is that the Government is happy to proceed with it and give away any sovereignty that remains. Ministers have made much of our loss of economic sovereignty and how their job is to get it back. The fiscal compact will give away Ireland's economic sovereignty forever and make Ireland a province once again. If the Taoiseach wishes to don the green jersey, let him put it on, attend the Council meeting and tell "Merkozy" and the Commission that the Irish Parliament and people have given him a single mandate, that is, to defend the independence of the nation and that whatever deal comes from the Council will be put to the people. The Taoiseach should tell them that only if he receives their endorsement, will he be in a position to sign up to any deal.

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