A GROUP of lawyers has launched a campaign calling for a Yes vote in the upcoming Lisbon Treaty referendum on October 2nd.
“Lawyers for Europe” is chaired by Bill Shipsey SC, former chairman of the Free Legal Advice Centres.
“We believe that it is in the interests of the people of Ireland to ratify the Lisbon Treaty and that there should be a positive campaign in favour of the treaty highlighting and explaining the facts,” he said.
Former Supreme Court judge Mr Justice Donal Barrington, the group’s patron, said a vote in favour of the Lisbon Treaty would enhance the European Union.
At the launch, some members of the group who are practising barristers explained the legal guarantees negotiated by Government.
Grainne Gilmore BL said the treaty enhanced human rights protection in a number of ways.
“It allows the EU to accede to the European Convention on Human Rights. It incorporates the Charter of Fundamental Rights into the primary law of the European Union,” she said.
“It removes many of the restrictions on the European Court of Justice adjudicating upon Union measures concerning justice and home affairs as well as common foreign and security policy.
“It improves access to the European Court of Justice for individuals.”
Meanwhile, Stephen O’Sullivan BL said most of Ireland’s worker protection laws had their origin in EU law. “There is concern, arising from case law, and not from the Lisbon Treaty itself, that a ‘‘race to the bottom’’ may be allowed to occur in Ireland in relation to terms and conditions of employment,” he said.
“However, there are strong protections against this in the EU directives and Irish legislation currently in place and the Lisbon Treaty does not affect that.”
Glen Gibbons BL said the treaty would make the EU more democratically accountable.
He said the treaty provided the European Parliament with greater powers in the legislative process.
Garret Byrne BL claimed one of the most straightforward reasons in favour of the ratification of the treaty was that it was the only way Ireland could retain a permanent commissioner.
“Under Nice, we will eventually lose out. Lisbon allows the member states to agree to retain their commissioners, which they have done.”
Cian Cotter BL said Ireland would never be forced into sending troops or participating in any way in a mission that had not been approved by the Irish State.
Jennifer Goode BL said Ireland would retain its tax sovereignty under the provisions of the treaty.
